sequin

UK: /ˈsiːkwɪn/ US: /ˈsikwɪn/ ,(sē′kwin)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

se•quin /ˈsikwɪn/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing a small, shiny disk used for ornamentation on clothing.

se•quined, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

se•quin  (sē′kwin), n. 

1. Clothing a small shining disk or spangle used for ornamentation, as on women's clothing and accessories or on theatrical costumes.
2. Currency a former gold coin of Venice, introduced in 1284;
   ducat.
3. Currency a former gold coin of Malta, introduced c1535.
4. Currency a former gold coin of Turkey, introduced in 1478.

Also, zecchino, zechin (for defs. 2–4).

• Arabic sikkah die, coin) + -ino -ine²
• Italian zecchino, equivalent. to zecc(a) mint (
• French sequin
• 1575–85

se′quined, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sequin / ˈsiːkwɪn/ noun

1. a small piece of shiny often coloured metal foil or plastic, usually round, used to decorate garments, etc
2. Also called: zecchino any of various gold coins that were formerly minted in Italy, Turkey, and Malta

Etymology: 17th Century: via French from Italian zecchino, from zecca mint, from Arabic sikkah die for striking coins

ˈsequinned, ˈsequined adjective