objet de vertu

English

Etymology

From French objet + de + variant form of English virtu, after e.g. English objet d'art, from French objet d'art.

The term objet de vertu does not exist in French.

Noun

objet de vertu (plural objets de vertu)

1. An object of particular interest for reasons of history, workmanship etc.
   • 1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber 1992, p. 260:

     We impotents are great collectors of objets de vertu, snuffboxes, musical boxes, knick-knacks.