Wahranite
/ˈwɑːrənˌaɪt/noun
A rare phosphate mineral named after Wahran, the Arabic name for Oran in Algeria.
Did you know?Wahran is the Arabic name for Oran, and it is traditionally connected with the Arabic word for “lion,” although the deeper origin of the place-name remains debated.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval period
Arabic
وهران (Wahrān)
“The Arabic form of the North African place-name later known in English as Oran.”
Medieval–Early Modern period
Maghrebi Arabic
Wahrān
“A regional name for the Algerian city and surrounding area.”
19th Century
French
Oran
“The French form of the city’s name, used in European geographical and scientific writing.”
20th Century
Mineralogy
wahranite
“A mineral name formed from Wahran with the scientific mineral suffix -ite.”
Modern English
English
wahranite
“The established English mineral name for this rare phosphate species.”