Gem

Kleinod is an old German word for a piece of jewelry . Today it is mainly used in a figurative sense for a (not only representational) treasure.

Concept history

The medieval and early modern meanings have been compiled in great detail in the Grimm dictionary . From this diversity, only the most common of the earlier meanings are mentioned here: The piece of jewelery belongs to them, especially if it had a symbolic character as a single piece. But also an insignia , a reliquary , even a drinking vessel or crockery, as well as a special coin could be designated in this way, provided it was made of valuable material (precious metal, jewels) and was of low complexity and size.

Derivatives

• a helmet gem , the decoration of a knight's helmet in heraldry
• a necklet , a piece of jewelry placed around the neck of a helmet in heraldry
• an award or a medal, see medals and decorations
• a shooting jewel, see Reichsgulden at 21 Groschen (1584)

See also

• Gems
• Bijou

Others

Kleinod has entered the Czech language as a loan word klenot (jewel) .

Web links

Wiktionary: Kleinod  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Gem 3) jewelry u. as a meaningful badge. In: Jacob Grimm , Wilhelm Grimm (Hrsg.): German dictionary . tape 11 : K - (V). S. Hirzel, Leipzig 1873, Sp. 1125–1126 ( woerterbuchnetz.de ).
2. ↑ Helmet jewelery. In: Jacob Grimm , Wilhelm Grimm (Hrsg.): German dictionary . tape 10 : H, I, J - (IV, 2nd division). S. Hirzel, Leipzig 1877, Sp. 978 ( woerterbuchnetz.de ).
3. ↑ https://is.muni.cz/th/f948o/Germanismen_im_Tsch.pdf