chap·let / ˈchaplət/ • n. 1. a garland or wreath for a person's head.2. a string of 55 beads (one third of the rosary number) for counting prayers, or as a necklace.3. a metal support for the core of a hollow casting mold.DERIVATIVES: chap·let·ed adj.

chaplet wreath for the head XIV; string of beads in the rosary XVII. — (O)F. chapelet orig. a crown of roses, dim. of chapel (mod. chapeau hat) :- Rom. *cappellus, dim. of cappa hood, CAPE 1; see -ET. The application to the rosary arises from the orig. rose form of the beads.

Chaplet

a string of beads or a garland, or something that resembles it; a rosary, hence, the prayers recited over it.

Examples: chaplet of beads, 1653; of domestic affections, 1827; of flowers, 1590; of olive leaves, 1839; of prayers; of precious stones, 1450; of roses, 1711; of sharp nettles, 1480; of toad’s eggs, 1835; of laurel, 1691; of rue, 1864.

chaplet. Moulding resembling a string of beads, as on an astragal, also called pearling.