carcanet

English

Alternative forms

• carkanet

Etymology

From French carcan +‎ -et.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑːkənɛt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɑɹkənɛt/

Noun

carcanet (plural carcanets)

1. (archaic) A richly decorative collar.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet LII”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:

     Like stones of worth they thinly placed are, / Or captain jewels in the carcanet.

   • 1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country, Nebraska, published 2005, page 136:

     he cared nothing for curiously woven shrouds, and feathered mantles, and carcanets of pearl beads, and jars of quaint pottery [...].

   • 1954, JRR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring:

     There flying Elwing came to him, / and flame was in the darkness lit; / more bright than light of diamond / the fire upon her carcanet.