etui

or e·twee

[ ey-twee, et-wee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural e·tuis.

a small, often decorative case, especially one for needles, toilet articles, or the like.

étui

/ ɛˈtwiː /

a small usually ornamented case for holding needles, cosmetics, or other small articles

Origin of etui¹

1605–15; < French étui, Old French estui holder, noun derivative of estuier to keep < Vulgar Latin *studiāre to treat with care

Origin of etui¹

C17: from French, from Old French estuier to enclose; see tweezers

The queen then returned, holding in her hands two very pretty portfolios for her drawings, and a very fine gold etui.

He stepped to his trunk, unlocked it, and took from it an etui containing a number of fans.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse