Lodestone
/ˈləʊd.stəʊn/noun
A naturally magnetized piece of magnetite that attracts iron and was historically used as a compass.
Did you know?Ancient navigators treated lodestones as almost magical because they could magnetize iron and point north, inspiring legends of stones with supernatural guiding power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leit̯- / *steh₂-
“To go or guide; to stand—ancestral roots associated with the two parts of the compound.”
Old English
Old English
lādstān
“A guide-stone or stone used to indicate a route; lād meant “journey” or “way,” and stān meant “stone.””
Middle English
Middle English
lode-stone
“A naturally magnetic stone, especially one used to guide travelers or ships.”
16th Century
English
loadstone
“A magnetic mineral used to magnetize iron and assist navigation; spelling was influenced by confusion with “load.””
Modern English
English
lodestone
“A naturally magnetized piece of magnetite, or figuratively, something that strongly attracts.”