Locket

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈlɒkɪt/

Definitions

1. A small ornamental case usually worn as jewelry that encases keepsakes such as photos or hair strands
2. A piece of jewelry, often in the form of a pendant, intended to hold beloved items like photographs or locks of hair
3. A decorative item typically designed to be worn as a necklace that contains sentimental objects like photographs or small relics | An elegant accessory often fashioned as a pendant that serves as a receptacle for cherished mementos such as pictures or hair | A ornamental case worn around the neck that is used to store personal keepsakes like images or hair strands

Etymology: The word emerged in English during the early 17th century, designating a small ornamental case, often worn on a chain around the neck, designed to hold a keepsake such as a miniature portrait or a lock of hair. This intimate container served as a personal memento, symbolizing affection or remembrance. Its origin traces back to the Middle English diminutive suffix "-et" attached to "lock," which in this context referred not to a fastening device but to a small portion of hair. The term "lock" itself comes from Old English "locc," meaning a tuft or curl of hair. Thus, "locket" essentially meant a little case holding a lock of hair. While the diminutive form "-et" was common in English and French to denote something small, the creation of this word likely reflects the sentimental practices of the time, when carrying a physical token of a loved one’s presence was customary. This practice gained popularity especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, coinciding with advances in jewelry making and portrait miniatures. Over time, the meaning expanded to include lockets containing photographs or other small keepsakes, but the original essence of the word remains tied to its role as a container for a cherished fragment, often hair, linking the tangible and emotional.

Synonyms: pendant, amulet