girandole

American  

[jir-uhn-dohl] / ˈdʒɪr ənˌdoʊl /

Also girandola

noun

1. a rotating and radiating firework.

2. an ornate bracket for candelabra or the like, sometimes with a reflecting mirror at the back of the shelf.

3. a brooch or earring consisting of a central ornament with usually three smaller ornaments hanging from it.

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girandole British  

/ ˈdʒɪrənˌdəʊl, dʒɪˈrændələ /

noun

1. an ornamental branched wall candleholder, usually incorporating a mirror

2. an earring or pendant having a central gem surrounded by smaller ones

3. a kind of revolving firework

4. artillery a group of connected mines

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Etymology

Origin of girandole

First recorded in 1625–35; from French, from Italian girandola, derivative of girare “to turn in a circle, revolve,” from Late Latin gȳrāre, derivative of gȳrus “circular track (for horses), ring, circle,” from Greek gŷros

Example Sentences

Underneath the girandole are two of my books: my latest, Diving for Pearls, and Sisters, Saints and Sibyls, which is very rare.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2015

To the left is a girandole from 1730 made from Murano glass.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2015

Over the heavy and massive sideboard is a long gilt mirror of the Empire "banister" type; between the two side windows is a gilt, convex girandole with three branching candlesticks on each side.

From Remodeled Farmhouses by Northend, Mary H.

I have seen a set of cut-glass sent to Calcutta for the purpose, or a girandole, too handsome for Brazilian purchasers.

From Journal of a Voyage to Brazil And Residence There During Part of the Years 1821, 1822, 1823 by Graham, Maria

Each hourly chime Proclaims the law that swung the girandole.

From The Call of the Mountains and other Poems by Pickering, James E.