Nouche

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic term for the setting or mount that holds a precious stone in an ornament such as a brooch or clasp
2. An old word for the ornamental socket or frame in which a gem is fixed, often on a belt, buckle, or piece of jewelry
3. A historical name for the decorative mounting that secures a jewel to a piece of metalwork or clothing

Etymology: Medieval jewellers fixed gems into metal using a small setting called a "nouche," a word borrowed from Old French "ouche." Its ultimate origin is uncertain, though it is probably Germanic, and it may be related to words for a clasp or socket. The initial "n" is the curious part. English speakers likely heard "a ouche" as "a nouche," so the "n" moved from the article onto the noun. English has other examples of this shift: "an ewt" became "a newt," and "napron" became "apron."