Lapidistry

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The art and craft of cutting, polishing, and engraving gemstones for decorative purposes
2. The skill involved in creating intricate designs on stones and precious materials
3. A specialized field focusing on the transformation of raw gems into finely finished pieces for jewelry and ornamentation

Etymology: Latin "lapis", meaning stone, sits behind this term, and the same root gives English "lapidate", to stone someone to death. The more common related word is "lapidary", from Latin "lapidarius", "of stones". That adjective came to describe the terse, formal style of inscriptions carved on monuments, and it also named the craft of cutting gems. "Lapidistry" appears to be a rare, recent formation: "lapid-" plus the suffix "-istry", which English builds from "-ist" and "-ry", as in "artistry". Because it is a derivative rather than an old inherited term, it is not found in most standard dictionaries, and its exact date of first use is uncertain. Its meaning therefore follows the established word "lapidary", which is the usual term for the trade.

Synonyms: gem cutting, gem engraving, lapidary art, stone cutting