Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The small flat face at the bottom of a gem cut as a brilliant.
  • noun Armor consisting of overlapping plates used to protect the buttocks.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In armor, that part which protects the body behind, from the waist down.
  • noun In jewelry, the small flat surface at the back or bottom of a brilliant. Also called cullet, collet, and lower table. See cut under brilliant.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A component of armor, consisting of overlapping plates designed to protect the buttocks.
  • noun A small, flat face at the base of a brilliant-cut gemstone.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Obsolete French, diminutive of cul, rump, from Latin cūlus; see (s)keu- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French culet, diminutive of cul ("bottom"), itself from Latin culus ("arse").

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Examples

  • The truncating of the lower cone forms the tiny facet known as the culet, which lies opposite to the table and is parallel to the latter [see B, Fig. 13, cut

    A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public Frank Bertram Wade

  • Its fourfold symmetry was reflected on its culet facets as well as the split-star facets.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

  • The size of the culet let the small facets produce a fire.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

  • Its fourfold symmetry was reflected on its culet facets as well as the split-star facets.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

  • The especially large open culet on the bottom of the stone was a portal for the owner to go into the diamond and see whatever he wanted; this was part of its magic.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

  • The especially large open culet on the bottom of the stone was a portal for the owner to go into the diamond and see whatever he wanted; this was part of its magic.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

  • Its fourfold symmetry was reflected on its culet facets as well as the split-star facets.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

  • The size of the culet let the small facets produce a fire.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

  • The size of the culet let the small facets produce a fire.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

  • The especially large open culet on the bottom of the stone was a portal for the owner to go into the diamond and see whatever he wanted; this was part of its magic.

    THE DIAMOND JULIE BAUMGOLD 2005

Comments

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  • A facet on the very bottom of a diamond

    September 24, 2007

  • A tiny flat facet that diamond cutters sometimes add to the bottom of the stone's pavilion to prevent chipping or damage. The setting itself usually provides enough protection to prevent wear or damage to the pavilion.

    August 4, 2009