Cyprine
/ˈsaɪ.priːn/noun
A rare blue to violet mineral variety of vesuvianite containing copper.
Did you know?Cyprine is named from Greek roots meaning “Cyprus,” the island anciently famous for copper, and its color comes from trace copper inside the crystal.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Kypros (Κύπρος)
“Cyprus, the island strongly associated with copper”
Latin
Latin
cyprium
“of Cyprus; copper ore or copper metal”
Late Latin / Medieval Latin
Latin
cyprinus
“Cyprian; from Cyprus”
19th Century
French/English
cyprine
“a mineral name applied to a copper-bearing blue-violet variety of vesuvianite”
Modern English
English
cyprine
“a rare copper-bearing blue-violet mineral variety of vesuvianite”