casquet

Everyday

1. (old) A casquet is an old spelling of «casket», a small box for jewels or treasure. tree →
2. (old) A casquet can also be a light helmet, like a «casque». tree →
3. (a name) The Casquets are dangerous rocks with a lighthouse in the English Channel near Alderney. tree →

In the lessons

A rare word found in old books, poems and sea stories. A casquet of jewels is a treasure chest; sailors feared the Casquets rocks. Today we say «casket» for the box and «helmet» for the head covering.

Examples

• The princess kept her rings in a silver casquet. tree →
• The knight wore a light casquet on his head. tree →
• Many ships were wrecked on the Casquets. tree →
• The pirates opened the casquet and found gold. tree →
• A casquet is an old word for a little jewel box. tree →
• The lighthouse on the Casquets warns ships. tree →

Note

Rare and old; pronounced KASS-kit or KASS-kay. Modern forms: casket (box), casque (helmet). In the USA «casket» also means a coffin.