Forms: 5–6 serclett, 6 cirkillet, cyrculet, 6–7 circulet, 6– circlet. [a. F. cerclet, dim. of cercle; subseq. influenced by Eng. CIRCLE, and prob. by It. circoletto: see -ET.]
1. A small circle (in various senses of that word).
a. 1528. Skelton, Sp. Parrot, 19. About my neck a cyrculet lyke the ryche rubie.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., XII. lxxxiv. His locks … Fell down in curls … Within their circlets hundred Graces set.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 169. Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Mom With thy bright Circlet.
1821. Byron, Cain, II. i. 30. Yon small blue circle, swinging in far ether, With an inferior circlet near it still.
1859. R. F. Burton, Centr. Afr., in Jrnl. Geog. Soc., XXIX. 28. The circlets which in cartography denote cities or towns.
2. spec. A ring or band (e.g., of precious metal or jewels) worn as an ornament, esp. on the head.
1481–90. Howard Househ. Bks. (1841), 442. A peyer of tyres for my Lordys grace, and a serclett for my Lady Barnes.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, III. iii. 49. With garlandis and thair cirkillettis on thair hair.
1540. Churchw. Acc. St. Margaret’s Westm. (Nichols, 1797), 11. Paid to Alice Lewis, a goldsmith’s wife … for a serclett to Marry Maydens in £3.
1661. Morgan, Sph. Gentry, IV. v. 65. The imposition of a Chaplet Cap, with a circulet of gold.
1814. Southey, Roderick, XVIII. He … on his finger placed The mystic circlet … With this ring, O Prince, [etc.].
1863. Miss Braddon, J. Marchmont, II. i. 2. With that circlet of pearls round her hair.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xiv. 18. A plain circle of gold was the substitute for the crown.
b. gen. A ring, circular band, or small hoop kind of any kind.
1577. Dee, Relat. Spir., I. (1659), 400. He throweth up his Circler, and catcheth it againe, three times.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XIX. 674. Thro’ six circlets flew the whizzing dart.
1867. F. Francis, Angling, ix. (1880), 334. A circlet of rushes plaited round the line.
† 3. (See quots.)
1611. Cotgr., Esclisse, the Rundle or Circlet put vnder a dish at Table.
1706. Phillips, Circlet, a Roll made of Pewter, or other Metal, to set and turn a Dish on at Table.
1847–78. Halliwell, Circlet, a round piece of wood put under a dish at table. North.
