word of the day: bezel

The word of the day is bezel:

Etymology:  < Old French *besel, *bezel, in modern French biseau , bizeau (compare Spanish bisel ), also basile ; of unknown origin: it may be diminutive of bis , bez , or contain that word. (It does not represent medieval Latin bisalus .) Compare belef adv., bevel n.² 

 

1. A slope, a sloping edge or face: esp. that of a chisel or other cutting tool (commonly basil.) 

2. The oblique sides or faces of a cut gem; spec. the various oblique faces and edges of a brilliant, which lie round the ‘table’ or large central plane on the upper surface, comprising the 8 star-facets, 16 skill-facets, and 8 lozenges.  [Compare Spanish bisel ‘edge of a looking-glass, or crystal plate.’] 

3. ‘The groove and projecting flange or lip by which the crystal of a watch or the stone of a jewel is retained in its setting.’ (OED)

"Johnson was in New York to promote a limited-edition luxury wristwatch called the Big Unit ($15,500), which incorporates, at his suggestion, a baseball (on the second hand) and his old uniform number (on the bezel, which marks fifty-one minutes after the hour, rather than fifty)."

 - Reeves Wiedeman, "Second acts: pitchman", 26 November 2012 The New Yorker