Spilla

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A small decorative item or ornament worn on clothing to fasten or embellish ; in Italian context, a safety pin or ornamental brooch ; sometimes used in English to denote a brooch with cultural or historical significance
2. An accessory designed to secure fabric or decorate garments ; an Italian term for a safety pin or jewelry piece placed on attire ; also refers to a pin or brooch with special artistic or meaningful value
3. An adornment affixed to clothing for fastening or style ; the Italian word for a pin or brooch, often adopted into English in reference to elegant or symbolic jewelry ; can mean a clasp, ornamental fastening, or historical decorative pin

Etymology: In Italian, "spilla" means a pin, and it most likely descends from Latin "spicula," the plural of "spiculum," meaning a sharp point or small dart. The same Latin source gave English the technical term "spicule," for a tiny needle-like structure. A pin's job of piercing cloth and holding it in place is a fitting origin for the word. English speakers borrowed "spilla" from Italian, where it refers to a brooch or decorative pin. It is used mainly in fashion writing and jewelry trade talk for ornate pins, often with a distinctly Italian character. Its use in English is comparatively recent and remains specialized, so most English dictionaries still treat it as a foreign term rather than a native one.

Synonyms: spill, overflow, leak, drip, seep

Antonyms: contain, hold, retain, collect, gather