bezel

Meanings

1. The sloping edge or face on a cutting tool.
2. The oblique side or face of a cut gem; especially the upper faceted portion of a brilliant (diamond), which projects from its setting.
3. The rim and flange which encompasses and fastens a jewel or other object, such as the crystal of a watch, in the cavity in which it is set.
4. The panel that covers the front of a computer case, or the panel covering each drive bay that can be removed to install a removable drive that requires external access, such as a CD/DVD-ROM drive, which usually has its own preinstalled bezel.
5. The area on the front of a computing device surrounding the display.

Etymology

Borrowed from French bisel, a dialectal variant of biseau (“sloping edge”), a variation on bijou (“jewel”), itself from Breton bisou, bizou (“ring worn on the finger”), from biz (“finger”). Unrelated to similar bevel, which is of a different French origin.