Rutile
/ˈruːtaɪl/noun
A mineral form of titanium dioxide, usually occurring as reddish-brown or black crystals.
Did you know?Rutile was named in 1803 from Latin rutilus, meaning “red, reddish-golden,” a root also used in ancient descriptions of glowing hair, dawn light, and metal sheen.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
rutilus
“red, reddish-golden, glowing”
1803
Latin/English
rutile
“Named for the mineral’s typically red or reddish-brown color”
Modern English
English
rutile
“A mineral form of titanium dioxide”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reudh-
“to be red, ruddy”