tinsel
TIN-suhl
/ˈtɪnsl/
Thin, glittering strips of shiny metallic or plastic material used in long strands to decorate holiday trees and homes.
Tinsel specifically refers to the highly reflective, shredded metallic or plastic strands that mimic the sparkle of frost or ice. It can also metaphorically describe cheap, superficial brilliance.
The story behind the word. Tinsel has a surprisingly fiery origin. It comes from the Old French 'estincelle', meaning 'spark', which itself derives from the Latin 'scintilla'. Originally, tinsel was made of real silver hammered incredibly thin to catch and reflect candlelight like tiny sparks.
Word relationships
- glitter: Glitter consists of tiny, loose sparkling particles, whereas tinsel consists of long, thin, ribbon-like strands.
- bauble: A bauble is a small, showy ornament (usually spherical), while tinsel is a long, shredded decorative material.
Commonly confused with
- foil: Foil is a solid, thin sheet of metal, whereas tinsel is cut into very fine, thread-like strands for decorative draping.
Word family
- tinselly (adjective): Resembling or decorated with tinsel; superficially shiny.
- tinselry (noun): Cheap, showy, or superficial brilliance.
Collocations
- silver tinsel
- drape tinsel
- shimmering tinsel
- tinsel garland
Example sentences
- "The holiday tree sparkled brightly under the lights, covered in shimmering silver tinsel." The visual effect of holiday lights reflecting off tree decorations.
Memory hook
'Tinsel' makes the tree look 'tin-sel' (tin-like and silver) and sparkly. Tinsel is the spark of the tree.
When not to use
Do not use to describe heavy, non-reflective decorations or solid metal ornaments.
Fun facts
- Because original silver tinsel tarnished quickly from fireplace smoke, manufacturers tried using lead, which was later banned due to toxicity.
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