Damascene
/ˈdæm.ə.siːn/noun
Relating to Damascus, or to a decorative pattern resembling watered steel.
Did you know?The famous “Damascus steel” reputation helped make Damascene mean a shimmering, patterned metal surface, while the related verb sense of sudden religious conversion reflects St. Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Damaskēnós
“from Damascus”
Late Latin
Latin
Damascenus
“of Damascus; a person from Damascus”
Old French
Old French
damascen
“from Damascus; pertaining to a patterned, watered fabric or metal”
Middle English
English
damaskeen
“of Damascus; having a watered pattern”
Modern English
English
damascene
“relating to Damascus or to a decorative watered pattern; also, to convert suddenly and completely”
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