tinsel

English

/ˈtɪn.səl/

noun
Definitions
  • A shining material used for ornamental purposes; especially, a very thin, gauzelike cloth with much gold or silver woven into it; also, very thin metal overlaid with a thin coating of gold or silver, brass foil, or the like.
  • Very thin strips of a glittering, metallic material used as a decoration, and traditionally draped at Christmas time over streamers, paper chains and the branches of Christmas trees.
  • Anything shining and gaudy; something superficially shining and showy, or having a false luster, and more pretty than valuable.

Etymology

Derived from Middle French estincelle (spark) derived from Latin scintilla (spark).

Origin

Latin

scintilla

Gloss

spark

Concept
Semantic Field

The physical world

Ontological Category

Person/Thing

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms