bracelet

the word "bracelet" entered english in the 15th century from old french bracel, a diminutive of brace ("arm"). the old french term derived from latin bracchiale, meaning "armlet", which itself originates from bracchium ("arm"), a latin borrowing from greek brakhī́ōn. the modern english form solidified with the addition of the diminutive suffix "-let", borrowed from old french, which commonly indicates a smaller item. thus, the word's literal construction as a "small thing for the arm" logically evolved into its current meaning denoting a decorative band worn on the wrist.

Structure: brace (arm) + let (small thing) brace (from old french brace, meaning "arm", from latin bracchium, "arm", of greek origin via latin; denotes the body part) + let (from old english -lǣtan or old french -elet, a diminutive suffix; denotes a small version of something).