an ornament worn on the wrist. It was much used among the ancients, and was made of different materials, according to the fashion of the age and the rank of the wearer. The word is French, bracelet; which Menage derives from bracelatum, a diminutive of bracle, all formed from the Latin brachium, an arm. This kind of ornament was called by the Romans armilla, brachiale occubus; and in the middle ages boga, banga, armispatha.

Bracelets have at all times been much in use among Eastern nations; and the women frequently wear many on the same arm. Among the higher classes these are of mother of pearl, fine gold, or silver; while poorer persons use plated steel, horn, brass, copper, beads, &c.