Cufflink

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkʌflɪŋk/

Definitions

1. A stylish accessory that connects the cuffs of a dress shirt, often serving as a decorative element in formal wear while ensuring the cuffs remain secure
2. A small ornamental device used to fasten together the two ends of a shirt cuff, enhancing the garment's appearance
3. An accessory designed to secure the edges of a cuff by linking them with a decorative clasp

Etymology: "Cufflink" is a plain compound: "cuff" joined to "link". The cuff is the turned-back end of a sleeve, and a link is a single loop in a chain, so the name describes the object's job of joining the two sides of a folded cuff. Because the word is built from two ordinary English parts, its meaning is transparent: the fastener links the cuff's edges together, much as a link joins two pieces of a chain. The term is a straightforward English coinage, and the two elements have been in use long enough that the compound follows naturally from them. Its literal sense has stayed the same from the start, which makes it one of the more transparent words in men's dress vocabulary.

Synonyms: link, fastener