Turmaline
/ˈtɜːrməliːn/noun
A variant spelling of tourmaline, a crystalline mineral often valued for its vivid colors and electrical properties.
Did you know?Tourmaline becomes electrically charged when heated or cooled, a property that helped inspire historical beliefs that it could attract or repel invisible forces.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 18th Century
Sinhala
turmali
“A name associated with tourmaline or a multicolored gemstone; the precise original sense is uncertain.”
18th Century
Dutch
tourmalijn
“The Dutch name for the mineral, adopted through contact with South Asian gem terminology.”
18th Century
French
tourmaline
“The mineral name borrowed from Dutch.”
18th Century
English
tourmaline
“The standard English form for the colorful crystalline mineral.”
Modern English
English
turmaline
“An established variant or historical spelling of tourmaline.”
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