Bijou (which can be pluralized as either bijoux or bijous) has adorned English since the late 17th century. We borrowed it from French, but the word ultimately traces to Breton, a Celtic language closely related to Cornish and Welsh and spoken by inhabitants of the Brittany region of northwest France. Bijou is a versatile word that comes from French, meaning "jewel." As a noun, it often refers to a small, elegant piece of jewelry, like a lovely brooch or a finely crafted ring.

Understanding the Context

The Bijou Theatre provides events that enrich the lives of East Tennesseans, stimulate cultural diversity, and reflect excellence in the performing arts. It was a pretty little bijou itself, with its polished ivory surface, and shining clasps of silver. Bijou is a French word meaning 'jewel', often loosely applied to buildings to mean small and elegant. It may also refer to: bijou (ˈbiːʒuː) n, pl -joux (-ʒuːz) 1.

Key Insights

something small and delicately worked, such as a trinket Noun bijou (plural bijous or bijoux) A jewel. A piece of jewelry; a trinket. A small intricate piece of metalwork. bijou, n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary