Forms: 4 iuelrye, 5 Sc. iowalre; 8– jewellery, jewelry. [ME. a. OF. juelerye (1434 in Godef., Compl.), f. joel, juel: see JEWEL and -ERY. In mod.Eng. app. two new formations, from JEWELLER (cf. mod.F. joaillerie from joaillier jeweller), and from JEWEL: see -ERY and -RY. Not in Johnson or Todd.]
Jewellers’ work; gems or ornaments made or sold by jewellers; esp. precious stones in mountings; jewels collectively, or as a form of adornment.
In commercial use commonly spelt jewellery; the form jewelry is more rhetorical and poetic, and unassociated with the jeweller. But the pronunciation with three syllables is usual even with the former spelling.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1309. Bot þe ioy of þe iuelrye so gentyle & ryche, When hit watz schewed hym so schene, scharp watz his wonder.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VI. 615. The jowalre, as it was thiddir led, Palȝonis and all thai leiffit quhen thai fled.
1786. Burke, Charges W. Hastings, IV. xlviii. Even jewellery and goods she finds … lose their value the moment it is known they come from her.
1814. Southey, Roderic, xviii. The proud array Of ermines, aureate vests, and jewelry.
1828. Webster, Jewelry.
1842. Tennyson, Morte d’Arthur, 58. Jacinth-work Of subtlest jewellery.
1872. Yeats, Techn. Hist. Comm., 336. The most delicate steel jewellery has displaced ornaments in wood or brass.
fig. 1817. Coleridge, Alice du Clos, 69. Smit by the sun the mist in glee Dissolves to lightsome jewelry—Each blossom hath its gem!
1885–6. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. cxl. Introd. Few short psalms are so rich in the jewelry of precious faith.
1898. Davidson, Last Ballad. And brimming stars hung from the sky Low down, and spilt their jewellery.
