koh-i-noor

noun

ˈkōəˌnu̇(ə)r
plural koh-i-noors
often capitalized
: something that is or is felt to be the best of its kind
especially : a usually large and valuable diamond
a young Spaniard with a Koh-i-noor of a diamond on his finger and pearls the size of camphor balls in his shirt front W. J. Locke

Word History

Etymology

from Koh-i-noor, famous diamond that became part of the British crown jewels after the annexation of Punjab by Great Britain in 1849, from Persian Kōh-i-nūr, literally, mountain of light

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near koh-i-noor

Cite this Entry

“Koh-i-noor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/koh-i-noor. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!