Zircon
/ˈzɜːr.kɒn/noun
A hard, naturally occurring mineral used as a gemstone and as a source of zirconium.
Did you know?The name likely passed through Arabic and Persian from a word for a yellow or golden-hued stone, showing how mineral names often traveled along trade routes long before modern gemology.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Persian / Arabic
Persian/Arabic
zargun / zarqūn
“A yellow, gold-colored stone or gem”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
zarqūn
“A term used for a gemstone, especially one associated with a bright or golden hue”
Late Medieval Latin
Latin
zargun / zircon
“A borrowed gem name entering scholarly and trade vocabulary”
18th Century
French
zircon
“The mineral name standardized in French mineralogical usage”
Late 18th Century
English
zircon
“A mineral and gemstone name adopted into English”