Sards

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /sɑɹdz/

Definitions

1. A term referring to a group or collective entity often used as a plural noun; a surname or proper noun associated with individuals or families; an abbreviation or shorthand for a specific organization or name in particular contexts
2. A plural designation for certain people or items identified by a common characteristic; a family name derived from cultural or historical origins; an acronym or informal label employed in specialized fields or communities
3. A word indicating multiple members of a defined group; a last name linked to heritage or lineage; a condensed form representing a particular title or affiliation used in various sectors

Etymology: Sard is the name of a reddish-brown variety of chalcedony, a form of quartz, and "sards" is simply its plural. The stone's name traces back through Latin to Greek, where "sardios" and the older "sardion" were the names used for it. The Latin "sarda" and "sardius" both passed into Old French as "sarde," and from there the word reached Middle English as "sarde" before being shortened to the form we use now. Because "sardius" also came into English directly, the two are doublets: separate borrowings of one ancient word. The name is often linked to Sardis, the ancient Lydian city in western Anatolia, and to the island of Sardinia, but the Greek word is the immediate source and the geographical connection is the subject of older speculation rather than settled fact. The stone itself was prized in antiquity for carving, and its name has long been used for this single dull, warm-coloured gem family.

Synonyms: sardius, sardonyx