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.
Phrases and idioms:
jewel-fish a scarlet and green tropical cichlid fish, Hemichromis bimaculatus.
Derivatives:
jewelly adj.
Etymology: ME f. AF juel, jeuel, OF joel, of uncert. orig.