pendant

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɛnd(ə)nt/

noun

  • 1a piece of jewellery that hangs from a chain worn round the neck: a jade-green pendant on a gold chain
  • a necklace with a pendant: I slipped the pendant over my neck
  • 2a light designed to hang from the ceiling: decorative pendants may need a special ceiling fitting
  • 3the part of a pocket watch by which it is suspended.
  • a short rope hanging from the head of a ship’s mast, yardarm, or clew of a sail, used for attaching tackles.
  • 4 /ˈpɛnd(ə)nt, ˈpɒ̃dɒ̃/ an artistic, literary, or musical composition intended to match or complement another: the triptych’s pendant will occupy the corresponding wall in the south transept
  • 5 Nautical a tapering flag.

adjective

  • hanging downwards; pendent: pendant flowers on frail stems

Origin:

Middle English (denoting an architectural decoration projecting downwards): from Old French, literally 'hanging', present participle of the verb pendre, from Latin pendere

A pendant is a piece of jewellery or a type of light; pendant can also be used as an adjective to mean 'hanging down'. The spelling pendent, with an e, always means 'hanging down' ( pendent catkins).