ˈjewel-house
A house, building, or chamber in which jewels are kept; a treasury. Now rare. b. spec. The room in the Tower of London in which the crown jewels are kept; the jewel-office.
| 1530 Palsgr. 235/1 Iowell house. 1546–7 Acts Privy Council Eng. 14 Mar., iiijxx ounzes of demi souveraine gold deliverde to R. D. and J. A. Yeomen of the Jewelhowse. 1548 Udall Erasm. Par. Luke xxi. 1 Called Gazophylacium, that is to saie, the Iewelhouse or sextrie, or treasourie in the whiche the Iewels of the temple wer kept. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, iv. i. 111 The King ha's made him Master o' th' Iewell House. a 1652 Brome Queenes Exch. v. Wks. 1873 III. 549, I have heard of them that robb'd my brothers Jewel-house. 1706 Phillips, Master of the Jewel-House,..has Charge of all Plate us'd for the King or Queen's Table, or by any great Officer attending the Court; as also of all Plate in the Tower of London, of Chains, loose Jewels, etc. 1815 T. Thomson (title) Collection of Inventories and other Records of the Royal Wardrobe and Jewelhouse. |
c. fig. A repository of ‘treasures’.
| 1594 Plat (title) Iewell House of Art and Nature. |