ETYM Latin amuletum: cf. French amulette.
A trinket or piece of jewelry thought to be a protection against evil; SYN. talisman.
An object used as a good luck charm, usually worn, for example on a necklace or bracelet. Amulets were very common in ancient Egypt; the scarab, a model of the dung beetle Scarabeus sacer, symbolized the Egyptian god of the Sun, Khepri, and eternal life. Their purpose was to secure for the wearer the qualities of the creature they represented, or simply to represent a god. Present-day amulets include the horseshoe, St Christopher medallion, and rabbit’s foot.