Chrysoprase

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of rare gemstone appreciated for its vibrant green color and translucency, often found in jewelry and ornamental pieces
2. A mineral known for its striking apple-green shade and clarity, frequently crafted into decorative items and worn as jewelry
3. This mineral is a rare gemstone valued for its unique green hue and transparency, commonly used in jewelry and decorative applications

Etymology: Chrysoprase is a compound from ancient Greek "khrūsóprasos," built from "khrusos" (gold) and "prason" (leek). The name describes a stone that looks like a leek's green set against a golden glow, and that pairing of gold and green is still the stone's defining feature. The Greek word was a term for a green gemstone with a golden sheen, and it passed into Latin and then into English and other European languages as the name for the translucent apple-green variety of chalcedony. The "prason" half is the same root that gave the modern name of the leek plant, so the stone is named after a vegetable. The "gold" in the name refers to the stone's shimmer under light rather than to any gold content, which is why the word reads as a contradiction to modern speakers who expect a gemstone's name to describe its colour alone.

Synonyms: green gemstone, jewel