ear-ring（n.）
也 earring，古英语 earhring，"一种戒指或其他装饰品，带或不带宝石，戴在耳朵上"，源自 ear（n.1）+ hring（见 ring（n.））。另一个古英语词是 earspinl。现在包括耳朵上的任何装饰品； 最初是 ear-drops（1720）的吊坠式。罗马化的不列颠人和盎格鲁-撒克逊人都戴过它们； 它们的使用在中世纪的欧洲逐渐减少，但在16世纪重新引入英格兰，但在17世纪之后，它们几乎只被女性佩戴。
The two groups which had formerly a near monopoly on male earrings were Gypsies and sailors. Both has the usual traditions about eyesight, but it was also said that sailors' earrings would save them from drowning, while others argued that should a sailor be drowned and washed up on some foreign shore, his gold earrings would pay for a proper Christian burial. ["Dictionary of English Folklore"]
过去男性耳环的两个主要群体是吉普赛人和水手。他们都有关于视力的传统，但也有人说水手的耳环可以救他们免于溺水，而其他人则认为如果一个水手溺水并漂到某个外国海岸，他的金耳环可以支付一个合适的基督教葬礼。["英国民俗词典"]