Word Origin & History
glitterc.1300, from O.N. glitra "to glitter," from glit "brightness," from P.Gmc. *glit- "shining, bright" (cf. O.E. glitenian "to glitter," O.H.G. glizzan, Ger. glitzern, Goth. glitmunjan), from PIE *ghleid- (cf. Gk. khlidon, khlidos "ornament"), from base *ghlei- "to shine, glitter" (see
EXPAND gleam). Glitter rock is from 1972; glitterati (playing on literati) first attested 1956.
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