sequin
UK[ˈsiːkwɪn]US[ˈsiːkwɪn]
n
A small, shiny, decorative disk, typically sewn onto clothing for ornamentation.
Etymology
The word 'sequin' entered English in the late 16th century from French, where it originally denoted a Venetian gold coin. The French term derived from Italian 'zecchino', which itself came from 'zecca', meaning 'mint', a word of Arabic origin ('sikkah', meaning a die for coining). The semantic shift from a valuable coin to a decorative disk is logical, as these shiny ornaments were reminiscent of the coins, which were sometimes used decoratively. Thus, the word's journey traces a path from an Arabic term for a minting tool, through Italian and French commerce, to its modern association with fashion and glitter.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. Its spelling and form were adopted as a whole from French.
Examples
Her evening gown was covered in thousands of sparkling silver sequins.
The costume designer spent hours hand-sewing each sequin onto the jacket.
A loose sequin had fallen onto the dressing room floor.