filigree
/ˈfɪl.ɪ.ɡɹiː/ noun, verb
Forms filigrees filigreeing filigreed filagree fillagree filligree
- noun (chiefly jewelry) A delicate and intricate ornamentation made from platinum, gold or silver (or sometimes other metal) twisted wire.
- noun (by extension) Anything resembling such intricate ornamentation.
- verb (transitive) To decorate something with intricate ornamentation made from gold or silver twisted wire.
Synonyms
Etymology
From French filigrane, from Italian filigrana, from Latin fīlum (“thread”) + grānum (“grain”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun Ornamental work, formerly with grains or breads, but now composed of fine wire and used chiefly in decorating gold and silver to which the wire is soldered, being arranged in designs frequently of a delicate and intricate arabesque pattern.
- adjective Relating to, composed of, or resembling, work in filigree; as, a filigree basket. Hence: Fanciful; unsubstantial; merely decorative.
Etymology [Corrupted fr. filigrane.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “filigree”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details