trinket

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Noun

trinket (plural trinkets)

1. A small showy ornament or piece of jewelry

   That little trinket around her neck must have cost a bundle.

2. A thing of little value; a trifle; a toy.

   It's only a little trinket, but it reminds her of him.

   • 1927-29, M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, translated 1940 by Mahadev Desai, Part I, Chapter xxiii ↗:

     There is no art about the Eiffel Tower. In no way can it be said to have contributed to the real beauty of the Exhibition. Men flocked to see it and ascended it as it was a novelty and of unique dimensions. It was the toy of the Exhibition. So long as we are children we are attracted by toys, and the Tower was a good demonstration of the fact that we are all children attracted by trinkets. That may be claimed to be the purpose served by the Eiffel Tower.

3. (nautical) A three-cornered sail formerly carried on a ship's foremast, probably on a lateen yard.

   • Sailing always with the sheets of mainsail and trinket warily in our hands.

4. (obsolete) A knife; a cutting tool.

Synonyms

• (small ornament) See also: Thesaurus:trinket
• (item of little value) See also: Thesaurus:trifle

Translations

• French: colifichet, bibelot, breloque
• German: Schmuck, Schmuckstück, Schmuckgegenstand
• Italian: gingillo, ciondolo, fronzolo, ninnolo, cineseria
• Russian: побряку́шка
• Spanish: perendengue, oropel

Translations

• French: babiole, bricole, broutille
• German: Kinkerlitzchen
• Italian: chincaglieria
• Russian: пустя́к
• Spanish: perendengue, baratija, chácharas

Verb

trinket (trinkets, present participle trinketing; past and past participle trinketed)

1. (obsolete) To give trinkets; to court favour.

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