spangle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small, flat, shiny ornament sewn onto clothing; a sequin

   Tailors sewed each silver spangle onto the dancer's costume by hand.

2. 2
   verb

   to cover or decorate something with many small sparkling objects or points of light

   Stars spangle the night sky above the desert.

From Middle English spangel, a small metal ornament, from spang plus the diminutive suffix -el. Spang came through Middle Dutch and Middle Low German words for a clasp or brooch; the verb developed from the noun.

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