Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bijou” come from?

bijou (English) comes from French bijou, from Breton bizoù, from Breton biz, from Proto-Celtic bistis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷist- — twig, finger.

bijou (English): A jewel; A piece of jewelry; a trinket; A small...

Definitions

  1. A jewel; A piece of jewelry; a trinket; A small...

Ancestry of “bijou”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchbijoua piece of jewelry
2Bretonbizoùring
3Bretonbizfinger; hand
4Proto-Celticbistisfinger
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʷist-twig, finger

Words derived from “bijou”

  • bijou problemette
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷist- →