spangle

Noun · Verb

US[spang-guhl]/ˈspæŋɡəl/2 syllables

Open English WordNet

adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material used to decorate clothingSynonyms: sequin diamanteType of adornment

glitter as if covered with spanglesMore general glitter, glisten
decorate with spangles“the star-spangled banner”Synonyms: bespangleMore general decorate, adorn

Word of the day · Sep 29About this word

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

Span′gle noun

Origin: OE. spangel, dim. of AS. spange. See Spang a spangle.

1. A small plate or boss of shining metal; something brilliant used as an ornament, especially when stitched on the dress.

2. Figuratively, any little thing that sparkless. “The rich spangles that adorn the sky.” Edmund Waller

Oak spangle. See under Oak.

Span′gle transitive verb [past tense & past participle Spangled; present participle & verbal noun Spangling.]

To set or sprinkle with, or as with, spangles; to adorn with small, distinct, brilliant bodies; as, a spangled breastplate. John Donne

What stars do spangle heaven with such beauty?— William Shakespeare

Spangled coquette Zoology, a tropical humming bird (Lophornis reginae). See Coquette, 2.

Span′gle intransitive verb

To show brilliant spots or points; to glisten; to glitter.

Some men by feigning words as dark as mine Make truth to spangle, and its rays to shine.— John Bunyan

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

spangle n.

[UK] The singular of bells and whistles. See also spungle.