Word of the Day:

"A girandole is no newcomer to the jewellery scene: it became fashionable in the 18th century—think rose-cut diamond drops twinkling in a candle-lit room. Sticklers for accuracy will want a central design motif, often a bow or similar, with three pear-shaped stones suspended underneath. David Morris, Gucci and Graff have some great modern-day versions. But the most covetable of all? Rare originals that occasionally come up for auction, having survived centuries without being separated." — Jessica Diamond, The Times (London), 28 Nov. 2022

More example sentences

The word girandole can refer to several different things, all of them designed to provoke oohs and aahs. The earliest uses of girandole in English, in the 17th century, referred to a kind of firework, or to something with a radiating pattern like that of a firework, such as a fountain. Such a pattern is reflected in the word's etymology: girandole can be traced back by way of French and Italian to the Latin word gyrus, meaning "gyre" or "a circular or spiral motion or form." By the 18th century, girandole was being used for a branched candlestick, perhaps due to its resemblance to the firework. The word's use for a kind of earring was lit during the 19th century. While pinwheel and Catherine wheel are more often called upon for firework duty today, we note that there’s nothing stopping you from applying the elegant girandole to the impressive displays that light up festive night skies.