trinket

Old English trenket (“a sort of knife”), hence, probably, a toy knife worn as an ornament; probably from an Old French dialectal form of trenchier (“to cut”). Compare trench.

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• Rhymes: -ɪŋkɪt

trinket (plural trinkets)

1. A small showy ornament or piece of jewelry

   That little trinket around her neck must have cost a bundle.

2. A thing of little value; a trifle; a toy.

   It's only a little trinket, but it reminds her of him.

3. (nautical) A three-cornered sail formerly carried on a ship's foremast, probably on a lateen yard.
   • Hakluyt

     Sailing always with the sheets of mainsail and trinket warily in our hands.

4. (obsolete) A knife; a cutting tool.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Tusser to this entry?)

• (small ornament): See also: Thesaurus:trinket
• (item of little value): See also: Thesaurus:trifle

trinket (third-person singular simple present trinkets, present participle trinketing, simple past and past participle trinketed)

1. (obsolete) To give trinkets; to court favour.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of South to this entry?)

• Knitter, knitter

trinket

1. Second-person plural subjunctive I of trinken.