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Jewel vs Newel - What's the difference?

jewel | newel |

As a proper noun jewel

is from the noun jewel, used since the end of the 19th century.

As a noun newel is

(architecture) a central pillar around which a staircase spirals or newel can be (obsolete) a novelty; a new thing.

jewel

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone.
  • A valuable object used for personal ornamentation, especially one made of precious metals and stones; a piece of jewellery.
  • * ante'' 1611 , (William Shakespeare), '', lines 188–9:
    • Iachimo: 'Tis plate of rare device, and jewels / Of rich and exquisite form, their values great.
  • (figuratively) Anything considered precious or valuable.
  • * Shakespeare
    • our prince (jewel of children)
  • A bearing for a pivot in a watch, formed of a crystal or precious stone.
  • (slang) The clitoris.
  • * 2008 , Another Time, Another Place: Five Novellas
    • The area between her eyebrows wrinkled with the increasing circular motions her two fingers made on her jewel .

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * bejewel * jeweler, jeweller * jewelled * jewellery, jewelry * jewel in the crown

    Verb

  • To bejewel; to decorate or bedeck with jewels or gems.

    • newel

    English

    (wikipedia newel)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) nuel, (etyl) nuel, of uncertain origin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (architecture) A central pillar around which a staircase spirals.
  • (architecture) A sturdy pillar at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, supporting the handrail.
  • * 1943 , (Raymond Chandler), The High Window , Penguin 2005, p. 238:
    • We went along the hall to the end and up a flight of stairs with a carved handrail and newel post.
    Synonyms
    * (central pillar of a staircase spiral) spindle

    Etymology 2

    From .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A novelty; a new thing.
  • * 1882 : (Alexander Balloch Grosart, ed) The Complete Works in Verse and Prose of Edmund Spenser
    • He was so enamoured with the newel .