kleinood

From Middle Dutch cleinode. In the meaning ‘precious object’ it is earliest attested in 1240 [1] From 'klein' meaning small and -ood general noun forming suffix originally used to produce abstract non-tangible concepts but was later used for tangible objects.

• IPA^(key): /klɛi̯ˈnoːt/, /ˈklɛi̯.noːt/

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• Hyphenation: klei‧nood
• Rhymes: -oːt

kleinood n (plural kleinoden or kleinodiën, diminutive kleinoodje n)

1. A small but valuable object or trinket.