Tinsel is a type of decorative material that mimics the effect of ice, consisting of thin strips of sparkling material attached to a thread. When in long narrow strips not attached to thread, it is called " lametta ", and emulates icicles. It was originally a metallic garland for Christmas decoration . The modern production of tinsel typically involves plastic, and is used particularly to decorate Christmas trees . It may be hung from ceilings or wrapped around statues, lampposts, and so on. Modern tinsel was invented in Nuremberg , Germany , in 1610, and was originally made of shredded silver .
20-565: According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary , the word is from the Old French word estincele , meaning " sparkle ". In the 16th-century the word "tinsel" was used for a variety of lightweight fabrics with a metallic effect made with silk and gold and silver thread. These tinsel fabrics were used in elite clothes, masque costume, and for heraldic banners and flags. Elizabeth of York bought "tynsell satin" in 1502 and
40-412: A "health hazard ." Modern tinsel is typically made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film coated with a metallic finish. Coated mylar film also has been used. These plastic forms of tinsel do not hang as well as tinsel made from heavy metals such as silver and lead. Germans refer to a row of military Awards and decorations as Lametta ( German for tinsel), similar to dressing in full regalia or with
60-475: A Nativity scene. By the early 20th century, manufacturing advances allowed cheap aluminium-based tinsel, and until World War I , France was the world leader in its manufacture. Production was curtailed during the First World War as a result of wartime demand for copper . During the 1950s, tinsel and tinsel garlands were so popular that they frequently were used more than Christmas lights, as tinsel
80-434: A high level of formality. The expression was coined earlier to describe the appearance of Hermann Göring , e.g. in a Chanson by Claire Waldoff , Rechts Lametta, links Lametta, Und der Bauch wird imma fetta (Tinsel on the right, tinsel on the left, and the belly gets fatter and fatter). Humorist Loriot 's 1977 film Weihnachten bei Hoppenstedts about a family Christmas involved a Prussian-educated grandfather humming
100-521: A hobby, mainly on devotional images. The same technique became popular for the smaller cut-out figures used in toy theatres , a craze of the period. A wide range of supplies for home-tinselling were available, or pre-tinselled figures could be bought. Tinsel printing can also refer to Indian techniques for fabric. Though popular in their day, theatrical tinsel prints were often not valued, and can deteriorate if not well looked after. They are now rare, especially in good condition. There are collections in
120-577: A risk of lead poisoning . In the United States , the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded in August 1971 that lead tinsel caused an unnecessary risk to children , and convinced manufacturers and importers to voluntarily stop producing or importing lead tinsel after January 1, 1972. The FDA did not actually ban the product because the agency did not have the evidence needed to declare lead tinsel
140-482: A standard size of about 12 by 10 inches (250 x 200 mm). Actors, whether heroes or villains, were more often represented than actresses. The artists are not named but the prolific political cartoonist and illustrator George Cruikshank is suspected of being involved. Many prints also used fabric pieces and other additions (such as the plume of Mr Haines' helmet above). Prints with fabric are called "dressed prints"; this seems to have begun in 18th-century France as
160-527: Is a compilation of both Concise Oxford American Dictionary and Concise Oxford American Thesaurus . Australian Concise Oxford Dictionary contains entries from contemporary Australian and international English. Edited by Bruce Moore, it incorporates entries from Oxford English Dictionary , Concise Oxford Dictionary , and the Australian National Dictionary . Concise Oxford English-Chinese Dictionary (牛津現代英漢雙解大詞典/牛津现代英汉双解大词典)
180-400: Is a two-way dictionary. Tinsel print A tinsel print is an example of one of two types of print, where tinsel is added after printing, for decorative effect. The first is a rare type of old master print parts of which are decorated with small thin shiny fragments of metal or quartz crystal applied to glue. Gold leaf fragments were used on some, and colour was applied before
200-409: Is a version of Oxford Concise English-Chinese Chinese-English Dictionary published by The Commercial Press. Publication deal between Oxford University Press and The Commercial Press was approved in 1983. English-German dictionaries are two-way dictionaries published in association with Duden . It is an electronic version of Concise Oxford-Duden German Dictionary. It is a two-way dictionary. It
220-748: Is one of the best-known of the 'smaller' Oxford dictionaries . The latest edition contains over 240,000 entries and 1,728 pages ("concise" compared to the OED at over 21,000 pages). Its 12th edition, published in 2011, is used by both the United Nations (UN) and NATO as the current authority for spellings in documents in English for international use. It is available as an e-book for a variety of handheld device platforms. In addition to providing information for general use, it documents local variations such as United States and United Kingdom usage. It
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#1732801671322240-567: Is published by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press in China. Online version became available in 2011. Warmth Concise Oxford English-Chinese Dictionary (牛津現代簡明英漢雙解辭典) is published by warmth Co/Warmth Publishing Group in Taiwan. It is a two-way dictionary. Chinese translations are in simplified Chinese, with traditional Chinese used in comments. Chinese pronunciation is in Mandarin. It
260-462: The Helenenmarsch with "ra-da-buff" and deploring the lack of tinsel („ Früher war mehr Lametta! “ "There used to be more tinsel!"), thus lamenting the changes in life due to the course of time, has become proverbial. Tinsel prints are two different types of print, where tinsel is added after printing, for decorative effect. The older type is a rare style of German religious woodcut from
280-606: The early 15th century. The later type is English and 19th-century, especially used for prints of actors in their roles. Tinsel has many traditional uses in India , including decorations on images, garlands for weddings and other ceremonies, and ornamental trappings for horses and elephants. Tinsels of various types are popular materials used in fly tying . Concise Oxford Dictionary The Concise Oxford English Dictionary (officially titled The Concise Oxford Dictionary until 2002, and widely abbreviated COD or COED )
300-403: The early or mid-19th century, normally showing actors in their roles, though Napoleon I in his study was another subject. These were sold in plain or hand-coloured and tinselled versions, and the plain versions were often tinselled at home. Tin-foil tinsel in different colours, mostly in pre-stamped shapes, was applied with glue. The theatrical prints cost one penny plain, and two coloured, with
320-513: The tinsel. Arthur Mayger Hind cites fewer than ten examples as being "practically all whose location is known... all seem to date between about 1430 and 1460". All are religious woodcuts , and probably German in origin, perhaps from Augsburg . They intended to imitate fabric, which was also the intention of the related "flock prints", printed in glue on paper that had been impressed on fabrics, and then sprinkled with chopped wool. The second type are popular prints , mainly British, produced in
340-542: The wardrobe of Margaret Tudor included "tynsen" in 1515. Tinsel and "tilsent" were less costly than Cloth of gold . Tinsel was used for a veil or caul worn by Mary I of England at her coronation in 1553 . Silver tinsel fabric, described in Italian as tocca d'argento , was used for the sails of mechanical ships at a masque at the wedding of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Francis, Dauphin of France in April 1558. Modern tinsel
360-467: Was invented in Nuremberg around 1610. Tinsel was originally made from extruded strands of silver . Because silver tarnishes quickly, other shiny metals were substituted. Before the 19th century, tinsel was used for adorning sculptures rather than Christmas trees. It was added to Christmas trees to enhance the flickering of the candles on the tree. Tinsel was used to represent the starry sky over
380-421: Was much less of a fire hazard than lights were for the then-popular aluminum Christmas trees , which were made from flammable aluminized paper. Lead foil was a popular material for tinsel manufacture for several decades of the 20th century. Unlike silver, lead tinsel did not tarnish, so it retained its shine. However, use of lead tinsel was phased out after the 1960s due to concern that it exposed children to
400-642: Was started as a derivative of the Oxford English Dictionary ( OED ), although section S–Z had to be written before the Oxford English Dictionary reached that stage. However, starting from the 10th edition, it is based on the Oxford Dictionary of English ( ODE ) rather than the OED . The most recent edition is the 12th, published in 2011. Contents are derived from New Oxford American Dictionary . It
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