# What are the origins of the expression Crown Jewels? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 6, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705 "2010-11-06T16:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/1 "2010-11-06T16:20:50Z")
Kings and other nobility held fortunes in rare metals and stones (diamonds, rubys etc.). The crown jewels of the monarchy was a symbol of power. Today every man carries the crown jewels in the crotch of his pants. When did testicles become the crown jewels? The kid in me can’t help but laugh. The pride and status of the rich & powerful, the crown jewels of the kingdom. Whoever made the term vulgar had a wicked sense of humor. 😉 Do we know when the vulgar use began and where? ---
**Author:** ![ramel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb8c5e/32.png) [@ramel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramel)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/2 "2010-11-06T16:32:24Z")
I’ve only heard them called “family jewels” before, and I’d assume that the origin would be pretty obvious. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/3 "2010-11-06T16:35:57Z")
And that phrase, “family jewels” is attested from 1920. [Cite](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=jewel&searchmode=none). I wonder if the Yiddish word _schmuck_, which means “penis” is somehow related. It’s apparently etymologically unrelated to the German word _schmuck_, which means “jewelry.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/4 "2010-11-06T16:39:38Z")
I’ve only heard “family jewels” too, and “crown jewels” doesn’t refer to the collective wealth or material fortune of a monarchy, but only to the actual jeweled, ceremonial vestments worn by the monarch during formal ceremonies (i.e. the literal crown and scepter, plus whatever rings or necklaces or whatever else they wear when they’re fully decked out for a ceremony). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/5 "2010-11-06T16:41:06Z")
I’ve heard family jewels too. We always said crown jewels as a kid. Same idea. But, you’re right, most people say family jewels. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/6 "2010-11-06T17:13:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve heard family jewels too. We always said crown jewels as a kid. Same idea. > > But, you’re right, most people say family jewels. I wonder if some of those who do say “crown jewels” have the image of the [orb and sceptre](http://en.wikivisual.com/images/9/96/Insight_may03_focus_beaton_large.jpg) in mind? ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/7 "2010-11-06T17:24:59Z")
Perhaps its rhyming slang. In the UK they are sometimes called ‘goollies’, not a big stretch to rhyme with ‘jewellry’ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/8 "2010-11-06T17:35:29Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > In the UK they are sometimes called ‘goollies’ Not to be confused with the [_Groovie Goolies_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmelTlEzI34). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/9 "2010-11-06T22:18:10Z")
“Jewels” has meant “something highly prized” since the 14th Century. > [@OED](#): > > 1340 Ayenb. 156 et is e vifte ioyel and e vifte stape. a1450 Mankind (Brandl) 426 e xall not choppe my Iewellys [my privyte (cf. 414)] and I may. 1529 Supplic. to King (E.E.T.S.) 39, I wolde not commytt my best beloued ioywell and treasure [sheep] vnto the, vnlesse thowe loue me hartely. 1589 NASHE Almond for Parrat 9b, Learning is a iewel my maisters, make much of it. 1598 SHAKES. Merry W. II. ii. 213 Vnlesse Experience be a Iewell, that I haue purchased at an infinite rate. It seems likely that’s where the metaphor came from. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-origins-of-the-expression-crown-jewels/559705/10 "2010-11-06T23:00:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Kings and other nobility held fortunes in rare metals and stones (diamonds, rubys etc.). The crown jewels of the monarchy was a symbol of power. > > Today every man carries the crown jewels in the crotch of his pants. When did testicles become the crown jewels? > > The kid in me can’t help but laugh. The pride and status of the rich & powerful, the crown jewels of the kingdom. Whoever made the term vulgar had a wicked sense of humor. 😉 > > Do we know when the vulgar use began and where? First you have to provide some evidence that “crown jewels”=testicles in slang. In my experience, it isn’t. I’m sure you’re just conflating the expression with “family jewels.”