Bijou
[BEE-zhoo]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: French, 17th century
1.
(Especially of a residence or business establishment) Small and elegant.
Examples of Bijou in a sentence
"The hotel was bijou, with just a dozen rooms managed by a local couple eager to meet our every need."
"My favorite restaurants are never big, splashy eateries; I much prefer bijou local bistros."
About Bijou
This French loanword comes from the Breton "bizou," which means "finger ring."
Did you Know?
As an adjective, “bijou” refers to a small, charming business establishment — perhaps a café or local gift shop. The word comes from the French word for jewelry, and as a noun, “bijou” (or the plural “bijoux”) in English can still be a darling little store, or it can be a trinket or piece of jewelry.
