n. & v.
n. 1 a a precious stone. b this as used for its hardness as a bearing in watchmaking. 2 a personal ornament containing a jewel or jewels. 3 a precious person or thing.
v.tr. (jewelled, jewelling; US jeweled, jeweling) 1 (esp. as jewelled adj.) adorn or set with jewels. 2 (in watchmaking) set with jewels. jewel-fish a scarlet and green tropical cichlid fish, Hemichromis bimaculatus. jewelly adj.
[ ME f. AF juel, jeuel, OF joel, of uncert. orig. ]