Jet
/dʒɛt/noun
A hard, black, lustrous variety of lignite used as an ornamental stone, or a stream of fluid expelled forcefully.
Did you know?The gemstone jet was prized in antiquity as a protective black stone, and the word’s history likely passes through Latin and French before landing in English.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
gagátēs
“A black stone, especially the dark ornamental stone later called jet”
Latin
LAT
gagates
“Jet; a black, shiny ornamental stone”
Old French
OFr
jet
“Jet; also a throwing or casting, from a different but later-influential verb source”
Middle English
ME
jet
“The black ornamental stone”
Modern English
EN
jet
“The black stone, and later a forceful stream or outpouring”