Lodestone
/ˈloʊd.stoʊn/noun
A naturally magnetic piece of mineral magnetite that attracts iron.
Did you know?The first element in lodestone comes from Old English lād, meaning “way, course, journey,” so the word originally meant a stone that could guide you—almost like a physical compass charm.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leyd-
“to go, to travel, to guide”
Old English
OE
lād
“way, course, journey, or act of leading”
Middle English
ME
lodestone
“a stone that leads or guides, especially by magnetic attraction”
Modern English
English
lodestone
“a naturally magnetic mineral, especially magnetite”