jewel

Etymology

From Middle English juel, jewel, juwel, jeuel, jowel, from Anglo-Norman juel, from Old French jouel, joel, joiel, hence French joyau, of uncertain origin. Perhaps based ultimately on Latin gaudium (“joy”), or on Latin iocus (“joke; jest”). Compare Medieval Latin jocale.

noun

1. A precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone.
2. A valuable object used for personal ornamentation, especially one made of precious metals and stones; a piece of jewellery.
3. (figurative) Anything precious or valuable.
   Galveston was the jewel of Texas prior to the hurricane.
4. (horology) A bearing for a pivot in a watch, formed of a crystal or precious stone.
5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Hypochrysops.
6. (slang) The clitoris.
   The area between her eyebrows wrinkled with the increasing circular motions her two fingers made on her jewel. 2008, Another Time, Another Place: Five Novellas

verb

1. To bejewel; to decorate or bedeck with jewels or gems.