▪ I. circlet, n.
(ˈsɜːklɪt)
Forms: 5–6 serclett, 6 cirkillet, cyrculet, 6–7 circulet, 6– circlet.
[a. F. cerclet, dim. of cercle; subseq. influenced by Eng. circle, and prob. by It. circoletto: see -et1.]
1. A small circle (in various senses of that word).
| a 1528 Skelton Sp. Parrot 19 About my neck a cyrculet lyke the ryche rubie. 1633 P. Fletcher Purple Isl. xii. lxxxiv, His locks..Fell down in curls..Within their circlets hundred Graces set. 1667 Milton P.L. v. 169 Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn With thy bright Circlet. 1821 Byron Cain ii. i. 30 Yon small blue circle, swinging in far ether, With an inferior circlet near it still. 1859 R. Burton Centr. Afr. in Jrnl. Geog. Soc. XXIX. 28 The circlets which in cartography denote cities or towns. |
2. spec. A ring or band (e.g. of precious metal or jewels) worn as an ornament, esp. on the head.
| 1481–90 Howard Househ. Bks. (1841) 442 A peyer of tyres for my Lordys grace, and a serclett for my Lady Barnes. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. iii. 49 With garlandis and thair cirkillettis on thair hair. 1540 Churchw. Acc. St. Margaret's Westm. (Nichols 1797) 11 Paid to Alice Lewis, a goldsmith's wife..for a serclett to Marry Maydens in {pstlg}3. 1661 Morgan Sph. Gentry iv. v. 65 A Chaplet cap, with a circulet of gold. 1814 Southey Roderick xviii, He..on his finger placed The mystic circlet..With this ring, O Prince, etc. 1863 M. E. Braddon J. Marchmont II. i. 2 With that circlet of pearls round her hair. 1875 Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xiv. 18 A plain circlet of gold was the substitute for the crown. |
b. gen. A ring, circular band, or small hoop of any kind.
| 1577 Dee Relat. Spir. i. (1659) 400 He throweth up his Circlet, and catcheth it againe, three times. 1725 Pope Odyss. xix. 674 Thro' six circlets flew the whizzing dart. 1867 F. Francis Angling ix. (1880) 334 A circlet of rushes plaited round the line. |
† 3. (See quots.)
| 1611 Cotgr., Esclisse, the Rundle or Circlet put vnder a dish at Table. 1706 Phillips, Circlet, a Roll made of Pewter, or other Metal, to set and turn a Dish on at Table. 1847–78 Halliwell, Circlet, a round piece of wood put under a dish at table. North. |
▪ II. circlet, v. rare.
(ˈsɜːklɪt)
[f. the n.]
To move in small circles over (a space).
| 1883 G. Meredith Joy of Earth 87 Swift as the swallow along the river's light Circleting the surface to meet his mirrored winglets. |