jewellery

• jewelry (American, sometimes Canadian)

From Middle English juelrye, from Old French juelerye, equivalent to jewel +‎ -ery.

• (UK, US) enPR: jo͞oʹəlrē, jo͞olʹrē IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒuːəlɹi/, /ˈd͡ʒuːlɹi/

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• (alternate UK pronunciation) enPR: jo͞oʹələrē, jo͞oʹlərē IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒuːələɹi/, /ˈd͡ʒuːləɹi/ (this pronunciation gives rise to the Cockney rhyming slang tomfoolery)

jewellery (usually uncountable, plural jewelleries)

1. Collectively, personal ornamentation such as rings, necklaces, brooches and bracelets, made of precious metals and sometimes set with gemstones.
   • 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Fate of the Artemis‎:

     “[…] Captain Markam had been found lying half-insensible, gagged and bound, on the floor of the sitting-room, his hands and feet tightly pinioned, and a woollen comforter wound closely round his mouth and neck ; whilst Mrs. Markham's jewel-case, containing valuable jewellery and the secret plans of Port Arthur, had disappeared. […]”

   She had more jewellery ornamented about her than any three ladies needed.

   Synonyms: (Cockney rhyming slang) tom, (Cockney rhyming slang) tomfoolery

• see also Thesaurus:jewelry