Lapis

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈlæpɪs/

Definitions

1. A deep blue metamorphic rock valued since antiquity for its intense color and use in jewelry, decoration, and pigment production
2. A semi-precious gemstone known for its stunning rich blue hue, often utilized in ornamental designs and as a source of vibrant pigments in art and decoration
3. A metamorphic stone prized for its deep azure appearance, commonly associated with ornamental uses and historical significance in artistic pigment formulation

Etymology: "Lapis" is what English speakers get when they trim "lapis lazuli" down to its first word. The longer name is the older one, and it is the one that explains the rest. "Lapis" is Latin for "stone," while "lazuli" comes from medieval Latin "lazulum," which traces back to Arabic and Persian names for the blue gem, so the full phrase is roughly "blue stone" with its Latin and Persian-Arabic halves stacked together. The short form leaves out the color word and keeps only the general term for stone, so "lapis" by itself can stand for the gem without any reference to blue. That shortening is also why the word has a second career in art: painters and decorators who used the powdered stone as a pigment spoke of it as "lapis" in workshop talk, and the single syllable suited the trade. The blue stays in the picture even when the word does not name it.