attelet

noun

at·​te·​let ˈa-tə-ˌlā 

plural attelets

: a small, ornamental metal skewer used as decoration when serving food

Each pyramid of sandwiches is surmounted by a silver attelet run through a small paper or silk pennon, and bearing the name of the sandwich in silver or gold letters.

—Janet McKenzie Hill, The Boston Cooking-School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics, June–July 1901

Fluted lemon and truffle rounds are strung along a decorative attelet piercing the bird's rump.

—Gael Greene, New York Magazine, 31 July 1972

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French attelet, hâtelet, going back to Middle French hastelet "skewer of roasted meat"

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!