--- title: JEWEL, a surprisingly intriguing etymological origin! description: We offer for sale rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and any other jewellery set with genuine designer black pearls. url: https://www.poemotu.com/en/blog-tahitian-pearls-poemotu-en/jewel-surprising-etymology.html --- # JEWEL, a surprisingly intriguing etymological origin! JEWEL, a surprisingly intriguing etymological origin! ## 21 juin 2017 ![](https://www.poemotu.com/images/bague_perle_tahiti_BAJO1P02.jpg) [**TAHITI PEARL BAND RING**](https://www.poemotu.com/perles-de-tahiti/fr/bagues-argent-92500-perles-de-tahiti/274-bague-jonc-argent-92500-perle-de-tahiti.html "Tahiti pearl band ring") Coming from the word **[jewellery](https://www.poemotu.com/perles-de-tahiti/fr/ "Tahiti pearl jewellery"),** referring to the collection of precious objects used for adornment, the word [**j**](https://www.poemotu.com/perles-de-tahiti/fr/ "Tahiti pearl jewellery")**[ewel](https://www.poemotu.com/perles-de-tahiti/fr/ "Tahiti pearl jewellery")**is generally considered to have been borrowed from the Breton **bizou**, a finger ring, surprisingly! Derived from **biz** (finger), a Celtic word corresponding to the Welsh **byzon**, the Cornish **bizou.** P Guiraud, a French linguist, disputing this Celtic etymology, suggests it is derived from **biseler,** to chamfer, from a variant **bisoler**, justified, according to him, by the Provençal **bisolo**, a pointed chamfer. He explains the form **jewel** as a dialectal form, possibly Walloon as there is **bijet, briger for biser, briser.** However, the first attestation, in Gay's glossary, is Breton, seriously compromising the second hypothesis. In the sense of **small crafted object, [precious](https://www.poemotu.com/perles-de-tahiti/fr/ "Tahiti pearl jewellery"), used for adornment,** there are special and figurative extensions: the word refers to a thing, a structure notable for its crafted beauty (1690) or designates a person who is pleasant and gracious and is used as a term of endearment [**my jewel.**](https://www.poemotu.com/perles-de-tahiti/fr/ "Tahiti pearl jewellery") The **[jewel](https://www.poemotu.com/perles-de-tahiti/fr/ "Tahiti pearl jewellery")**is in any case always associated with a connotation of pleasure to behold, a definition that just about everyone agrees with. [Béatrice Brothier, passionate gemmologist](https://www.poemotu.com/societe-poemotu/beatrice-brothier-creatrice-passionnee.html "Béatrice Brothier, Tahiti pearl jeweller") Feel free to share this article! **Sharing knowledge is the greatest wealth that unites people.** [![](https://www.poemotu.com/media/yootheme/cache/9e/ou%20trouve%20ton%20les%20plus%20belles%20perles%20de%20Tahiti%20-9e2f6425.png) 15 June 2026 ### Where Can You Find the Most Beautiful Tahitian Pearls? Read the article](https://www.poemotu.com/en/blog-tahitian-pearls-poemotu-en/where-find-best-tahiti-pearls) [![Offer a Pearl, Offer an Island: 5 Reasons to Choose a Tahitian Pearl for Christmas](https://www.poemotu.com/media/yootheme/cache/ba/5-raisons-de-choisir-une-perle-de-tahiti-pour-noel--ba80b311.png) 07 August 2025 ### Offer a Pearl, Offer an Island: 5 Reasons to Choose a Tahitian Pearl for Christmas Read the article](https://www.poemotu.com/en/blog-tahitian-pearls-poemotu-en/gift-a-pearl-gift-an-island-5-reasons-to-choose-a-tahiti-pearl-for-christmas) [![](https://www.poemotu.com/media/yootheme/cache/31/idees-pour-faire-un-noel-tahitien-311cf955.png) 07 August 2025 ### Christmas in the Islands: When Pearls Replace Snow Read the article](https://www.poemotu.com/en/blog-tahitian-pearls-poemotu-en/island-christmas-pearls-instead-of-snow) [![](https://www.poemotu.com/media/yootheme/cache/15/heiva-i-tahiti-danse-tahitienne-15bb0bbd.png) 23 July 2025 ### Heiva i Tahiti: the soul of Polynesia in dance, music, and tradition Read the article](https://www.poemotu.com/en/blog-tahitian-pearls-poemotu-en/heiva-tahiti-polynesian-spirit-dance-music-tradition) [![](https://www.poemotu.com/media/yootheme/cache/27/perle-tahiti-bracelet-homme-27cdab4b.png) 23 June 2025 ### Why Do Men Wear Tahitian Pearl Bracelets? Read the article](https://www.poemotu.com/en/blog-tahitian-pearls-poemotu-en/why-men-wear-tahiti-pearl-bracelets)