Nouch

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for a clasp or setting that holds a precious stone in place on jewellery or ornament
2. Old word for the metal setting or clasp that fastens a gem to a piece of jewellery or an ornament
3. A obsolete name for the mount or fastening that secures a jewel within an ornamental piece

Etymology: "Nouch" is an obsolete variant of "ouche," the name for the setting or mount that holds a jewel in an ornamental piece. The spelling shifted over time, so the two forms are the same word written differently. The word "ouche" goes back to Old French "ouche," which is the term for a socket or setting, and it entered English in the Middle Ages to describe the metalwork that grips a stone. Because the setting is what makes a gem stay put, the word tied a piece of jewellery's beauty to the plain, practical hardware behind it.