Homalite

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A transparent or translucent mineral belonging to the borosilicate family, often used as a gemstone and recognized for its optical clarity and hardness
2. A rare silicate mineral composed mainly of boron, silicon, oxygen, and calcium, valued in jewelry and collectible mineral specimens for its glass-like appearance
3. A crystalline substance categorized within the group of borosilicate minerals, prized by collectors and jewelers for its brilliance and durability in ornamental applications

Etymology: Homalite is a trade name, not an ancient word. It was coined in the 1940s by the Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, an American firm, for a clear plastic that could be cut and polished to look like glass or gemstone. The name blends the Greek "homalos", meaning "even" or "level", with the familiar "-ite" ending used for minerals and stones, so the coinage suggests a smooth, flat, evenly polished surface. The product was a polymer, a resin based on allyl diglycol carbonate, marketed in the 1940s as a lighter and less breakable alternative to glass for jewellery and optical uses. Because the trade name was so widely adopted, people began using "homalite" as a general word for this kind of synthetic gem material. It is one of several plastics of the period whose names were built from classical elements to sound scientific and precious at once.