Worry beads or kombolói, kompoloi (Greek: κομπολόι, bead collection; plural: κομπολόγια, ) is a string of beads manipulated with one hand and used to pass time in Greek and Cypriot culture. They were especially popular until the middle of the 20th century.
Unlike the similar prayer beads used in many religious traditions, including the Greek Orthodox komboskini, worry beads have no religious or ceremonial purpose.
Read more about Worry Beads: Etymology, Purpose and Origin, Features, Use
Famous quotes containing the words worry and/or beads:
“A great deal of unnecessary worry is indulged in by theatregoers trying to understand what Bernard Shaw means. They are not satisfied to listen to a pleasantly written scene in which three or four clever people say clever things, but they need to purse their lips and scowl a little and debate as to whether Shaw meant the lines to be an attack on monogamy as an institution or a plea for manual training in the public school system.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“Tell me how many beads there are
In a silver chain
Of evening rain,
Unravelled from the tumbling main,
And threading the eye of a yellow star:—
So many times do I love again.”
—Thomas Lovell Beddoes (1803–1849)