Spinel
/ˈspɪnəl/noun
A hard mineral, often red, used as a gemstone and found in a range of colors.
Did you know?Spinel entered English through medieval Latin and Old French from a word meaning “thorn,” likely because the crystals form sharp-looking points, and some famous “rubies” in royal crowns were actually spinels.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spei-
“To point, prick, or be sharp”
Latin
Latin
spina
“A thorn or spine”
Medieval Latin
Latin
spinella
“A little thorn; a small pointed stone”
Old French
Old French
espinelle
“A spinel; a pointed red gemstone”
14th Century
English
spinel
“A gemstone, especially a red one mistaken for ruby”
Modern English
English
spinel
“A mineral species valued as a gemstone”