Toramalli
/ˌtɔː.rəˈmæl.i/noun
A variety of tourmaline, a crystalline gemstone occurring in several colors.
Did you know?Toramalli is an older English mineralogical form related to the South Asian gemstone name behind “tourmaline,” though the word’s ultimate origin remains uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Early modern period
Sinhalese
tōramalli
“A South Asian name associated with a multicolored gemstone or mineral; the precise original sense is uncertain.”
Early modern period
Tamil
turmali
“A regional gemstone term, probably connected with the mineral later called tourmaline.”
17th Century
Dutch
toermalijn
“The name used for tourmaline, introduced into European mineral vocabulary through Dutch contact with South Asia.”
18th Century
English
tourmaline
“The established English name for a group of crystalline gemstones.”
19th Century
English
toramalli
“A rare mineralogical variant or name for a variety of tourmaline.”
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