girandole

[ jir-uhn-dohl ]

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.

girandole

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of girandole¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of girandole¹

C17: from French, from Italian girandola, from girare to revolve, from Latin gӯrāre to gyrate

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 Wall Street Journal

The girandoles looked like fiery lace in the sky.

From Literature

The girandole proper was getting to be rather monotonous, having been used as the end piece to pyro-spectacles for fifty years or more.

From Project Gutenberg

The silver girandoles above the butler's buffet beyond it were no less dazzling, while everywhere else a warm dusk deepened into almost absolute darkness wherever the glow from the still log-fires could not penetrate.

From Project Gutenberg

The lofty walls of plain plaster of Paris have their simplicity destroyed by some French girandoles with wax grapes hanging from them.

From Project Gutenberg