Ceylonite
/ˈsiː.lə.naɪt/noun
A dark brown to black magnesium-aluminum oxide mineral, a variety of spinel.
Did you know?Ceylonite is a variety of spinel, and its name preserves the old colonial-era name Ceylon for Sri Lanka, showing how mineral names can carry geography, empire, and beauty all at once.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
ceylonite
“A black or dark brown variety of spinel named after Ceylon.”
19th Century
French
céylonite
“A mineral name formed from Ceylon with the mineral suffix -ite.”
16th Century
Portuguese
Ceilão
“The Portuguese name for Sri Lanka/Ceylon.”
Ancient/Medieval
Sinhala/Tamil
Sīhalaya / Ilam
“Local names connected with the island now known as Sri Lanka.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σιγυλλος / Taprobane
“Classical names used by Mediterranean writers for the island of Sri Lanka.”