I. noun
also pen·dent ˈpendənt, in sense 4 ˈpenənt
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pendaunt, from Middle French pendant, from present participle of pendre to hang, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin pendere, from Latin pendēre; akin to Latin pendere to weigh, estimate, pay, pondus weight, pound, Old Slavic pęndĭ span, spandyti to span, Greek span to pull, draw — more at span
1. : something suspended : a hanging object: as
a. : an ornament that is attached by its upper edge and allowed to hang free
a jeweled pendant on a chain
ear pendants
a crystal chandelier with 40 pendants
b. : an electrical fixture (as a droplight or cord switch) suspended from the ceiling
2.
a. : the often decoratively carved terminal of a vertical member of a structure projecting below another member attached to it: as
(1) : a boss formed on the base of a keystone extended below the junction of ribs in late Gothic vaulting
(2) : the sculptured lower end of a newel post at the angle of a stair
(3) : the end of a vertical timber projecting below the overhanging second floor of an early American colonial house — called also drop, pendill
b. : a carved or molded often bas-relief ornament (as a representation of fruit or flowers) attached to a ceiling or wall in a hanging position
3. nautical
a. : a short rope or wire rope hanging from a spar and having at its free end a block or spliced thimble — called also pennant
b. : a length of rope or wire rope with eyes, blocks, or hooks spliced in the ends — often used with a qualifier specifying position or purpose
a centerboard pendant
a mooring pendant
— see ship illustration
4. : pennant 2a — used chiefly by the British navy
5. : the part of a pocket watch from which the chain is suspended ; specifically : the shank on the watch stem to which the bow attaches
6.
a. : something (as a picture) forming a match, companion piece, or counterpart to another
b. : something forming a supplement (as to a book)
publishes the present book frankly as a pendant to his earlier one — Lionel Stevenson
Synonyms: see flag
II.
variant of pendent