trinket
TRING-kit
/ˈtrɪŋ.kɪt/
A small ornament or item of jewelry that is of little value.
Suggests something pretty but ultimately insignificant or cheap.
The story behind the word. The origin is obscure, but it may have come from the Middle English 'trenket', a type of small knife, later evolving to mean any small, insignificant tool or toy.
Word relationships
- bauble: A bauble is specifically a showy, bright, but useless thing.
- knick-knack: A knick-knack is a small decorative object, often part of a collection.
- treasure: An object of great value or importance.
Commonly confused with
- curio: A curio is valued for being unusual; a trinket is just a small, cheap decoration.
Collocations
- cheap trinket
- shiny trinket
- worthless trinket
Example sentences
- "The mantelpiece was crowded with glass birds, plastic shells, and other dusty trinkets." Describing a cluttered shelf.
- "'She had a natural taste for the fine arts, and a passion for trinkets,' wrote Thackeray in Vanity Fair." In a classic novel.
Memory hook
A trinket is a 'thin' 'kit'—not much substance to it. Small, cheap, and shiny.
When not to use
Do not use for expensive jewelry or highly significant heirlooms.
Fun facts
- In the 16th century, 'trinket' was also a term for the highest sail on a ship, though the connection to jewelry is unclear.
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