carcanet means A richly decorative collar. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 85 out of 100.
carcanet is pronounced /ˈkɑːkənɛt/.
Why “carcanet” is a great word
A richly decorative collar or necklace, often made of gold or set with jewels, descending from the Middle French 'carcan' (meaning a choker or collar, itself from a Germanic origin for 'throat'), softened by the diminutive suffix '-et'. Unlike a modern choker, which is sleek and minimal, or a Celtic torc, which is a rigid band of ancient power, a carcanet is a supple whisper of Renaissance and Baroque opulence. It is the cold, precise weight of worked gold against a collarbone, the specific click of gems shifting against silk and skin, the captured fire of candlelight moving with a lady's breath—a crafted constraint that speaks not of confinement, but of the exquisite burdens of beauty and status.
Etymology
From French carcan + -et.
noun
- A richly decorative collar.“Like stones of worth they thinly placed are, / Or captain jewels in the carcanet.”