paillette

sequin

noun pah-YET Rare

Origin: Italian paglietta (little straw), diminutive of paglia (straw)

Also means

speck

Usage Note

Paillette (feminine) most often appears in the plural des paillettes, referring to the shiny sequins sewn onto fabric or used in arts and crafts. In a different register, une paillette d'or is a gold flake or speck found in alluvial panning. The phrase vivre dans les paillettes means to live a glamorous, showbiz lifestyle.

Examples

"Sa robe était couverte de paillettes dorées."

Natural Translation

Her dress was covered in golden sequins.

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