Jaspis
/ˈdʒæs.pɪs/noun
An archaic or variant English name for jasper, an opaque, often multicolored variety of quartz.
Did you know?The word’s ultimate origin is uncertain: Greek iaspis was probably borrowed from an eastern language, possibly through Persian or another ancient Near Eastern trade network.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Near East
Uncertain
*yashpeh
“A reconstructed or proposed eastern source for the gemstone name; the form and origin remain debated.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
יָשְׁפֵה (yāšəpēh)
“A precious stone named in biblical lists; its exact mineral identification is uncertain.”
Classical Greek
Greek
ἴασπις (íaspis)
“Jasper or a related colored gemstone, probably borrowed from an eastern language.”
Classical Latin
Latin
iaspis
“Jasper, a valued opaque and often multicolored stone.”
Middle English
English
jaspis
“An older English form referring to jasper.”
Modern English
English
jaspis
“A rare archaic or technical variant of jasper.”
Explore more surprising origins