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

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