cabochon

[ kab-uh-shon; French ka-baw-shawn ]

/ ˈkæb əˌʃɒn; French ka bɔˈʃɔ̃ /

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noun, plural cab·o·chons

[kab-uh-shonz; French ka-baw-shawn]. /ˈkæb əˌʃɒnz; French ka bɔˈʃɔ̃/.

a precious stone of convex hemispherical or oval form, polished but not cut into facets.

an ornamental motif resembling this, either concave or convex and often surrounded by ornately carved leaf patterns, used on furniture of the 18th century.

adverb

in the form of a cabochon: a turquoise cut cabochon.

adjective

being cut cabochon: cabochon gems.

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Origin of cabochon

1570–80; <Middle French, equivalent to caboche head (see cabbage¹) + -on diminutive suffix

Words nearby cabochon

cableway, cabling, cabman, cabob, caboched, cabochon, caboclo, caboodle, caboose, Cabora Bassa, Cabo Rojo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cabochon in a sentence

He peered at the brooch, which represented a bunch of grapes in small cabochon amethysts and leaves of green enamel.
The Second Latchkey|Charles Norris Williamson and Alice Muriel Williamson
And there was a pendant, a star of diamonds with a great cabochon sapphire—Mademoiselle's beloved jewel!
Vision House|C. N. Williamson
Each was a flat star of gray metal in which was set a large oval, cabochon-cut jewel.
The Door into Infinity|Edmond Hamilton
The first three and the last are cabochon cut, elliptical in contour with flat bottoms.
Industrial Arts Design|William H. Varnum

Design a built-up ring using an elliptical cabochon cut stone as the point of concentration.
Industrial Arts Design|William H. Varnum

British Dictionary definitions for cabochon

cabochon

/ (ˈkæbəˌʃɒn, French kabɔʃɔ̃) /

noun

a smooth domed gem, polished but unfaceted

Word Origin for cabochon

C16: from Old French, from Old Norman French caboche head; see cabbage 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012