Jacinth
/ˈdʒæs.ɪnθ/noun
A reddish-orange to yellowish variety of zircon, or a precious stone of that name in older usage.
Did you know?In the King James Bible, “jacinth” is one of the apocalyptic gemstones named in Revelation, which helped keep the word alive in English as a jewel of sacred, visionary imagery.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὑάκινθος (hyákinthos)
“A flower name, a blue-purple color, and later a gemstone name”
Late Latin
Latin
hyacinthus
“Hyacinth; also a precious stone”
Old French
OF
jacinthe
“Hyacinth, the flower; later also a gemstone”
14th–16th Century
English
jacinth
“A precious stone, especially a reddish-orange gem”
Modern English
English
jacinth
“A reddish-orange to yellowish variety of zircon”