filigree (n.)

1690s, shortening of filigreen (1660s), from French filigrane "filigree" (17c.), from Italian filigrana, from Latin filum "thread, wire" (from PIE root *gwhi- "thread, tendon") + granum "grain" (from PIE root *gre-no- "grain"). Related: Filigreed.

Entries linking to filigree

*gwhi-

*gwhī-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "thread, tendon."

It forms all or part of: defile (n.) "narrow passage;" enfilade; filament; file (v.1) "place (papers) in consecutive order for future reference;" filigree; filipendulous; fillet; profile.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Avestan jya- "bowstring;" Latin filum "a thread, string;" Armenian jil "sinew, string, line;" Lithuanian gysla "vein, sinew;" Old Church Slavonic zila "vein."

*gre-no-

*grə-no-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "grain."

It forms all or part of: corn (n.1); filigree; garner; garnet; grain; granary; grange; granger; granite; granular; granule; grenade; grenadine; kernel; pomegranate.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Latin granum "seed," Old Church Slavonic zruno "grain," Lithuanian žirnis "pea," Old English corn.

Share filigree

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/filigree

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/filigree">Etymology of filigree by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of filigree. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/filigree

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of filigree,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/filigree.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of filigree.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/filigree. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of filigree.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/filigree (accessed $(datetime)).

updated on June 14, 2017

Definitions of filigree from WordNet

filigree (v.)

make filigree, as with a precious metal;

filigree (n.)

delicate and intricate ornamentation (usually in gold or silver or other fine twisted wire);

Synonyms: filagree / fillagree

Etymologies are not definitions. From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near filigree

filet

filial

filiation

filibuster

filicide

filigree

filing

filioque

filipendulous

Filipino

fill