Cufflink
KUFF-lingk
/ˈkʌflɪŋk/
A decorative fastener used to secure the two sides of a shirt cuff together.
Worn almost exclusively with dress shirts having French cuffs (double cuffs) for formal or black-tie occasions.
The story behind the word. A compound of 'cuff' (the end sleeve band) and 'link' (to fasten together). In the 17th century, men tied their sleeve cuffs with silk ribbons. By the late 18th century, aristocrats replaced ribbons with twin glass or gold buttons connected by a small chain, creating the modern cufflink.
Word relationships
- fastener: Fastener is a general mechanical term, while cufflink specifically designates ornamental sleeve jewelry.
Commonly confused with
- button: Buttons are permanently stitched onto fabric, whereas cufflinks are removable decorative pieces passed through cuff buttonholes.
Collocations
- silver cufflinks
- gold cufflinks
- pair of cufflinks
- engraved cufflinks
Example sentences
- "He fastened his silver cufflinks through his crisp double cuffs before putting on his tuxedo jacket." Formal attire design
Memory hook
A CUFFLINK LINKS the two sides of your shirt CUFF together. Jewelry that links your French cuffs.
When not to use
Do not use for ordinary sewn plastic buttons attached to standard shirt sleeves.
Fun facts
- The popularity of cufflinks soared during the Industrial Revolution, when mass production allowed steel and enamel cufflinks to be made affordably for the middle class.
Related words
Explore more words
brooch, Waistcoat, Boutonniere, Cummerbund, Tuxedo, fascinator
Also appears in
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