Figurine
/ˌfɪɡjəˈriːn/noun
A small ornamental or representational statue or statuette.
Did you know?Figurine ultimately belongs to the same linguistic family as “fiction” and “feign,” all descending from a root connected with shaping or molding something into form.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰeigʷh-
“To form, shape, or mold”
Classical Latin
Latin
fingere
“To shape, fashion, mold, or devise”
Classical Latin
Latin
figura
“A shape, form, figure, or likeness”
Medieval Italian
Italian
figurina
“A small figure; diminutive of figura”
17th Century
French
figurine
“A small sculpted or modeled figure”
18th Century
English
figurine
“A small ornamental statue or representation”