beryl

Where does the word "beryl" come from? It comes from Sanskrit vaidurya, passing through Prakrit, Greek, Latin and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Beryl’s story begins in Sanskrit: vaidurya meant “a precious gem, beryl.” Named the pale green gemstone. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Prakrit as veluriya. The vernacular form of the Sanskrit gem name. From there it passed into Greek as beryllos by ancient. Greek traders adopted the Indian word for the gem. Latin picked it up next, as beryllus, around ancient. Carried into Latin by the Roman gem trade. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as beryl. Passed into French before reaching English. It reached English by medieval as beryl. Settled as the English name for the mineral family that includes emerald and aquamarine. Today, beryl means a mineral (beryllium aluminum silicate) whose gem varieties include emerald and aquamarine.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient vaidurya "a precious gem, beryl", named the pale green gemstone.
2. Stage 2 · Prakrit · ancient veluriya "beryl gemstone", the vernacular form of the Sanskrit gem name.
3. Stage 3 · Greek · ancient beryllos "beryl", Greek traders adopted the Indian word for the gem.
4. Stage 4 · Latin · ancient beryllus "beryl", carried into Latin by the Roman gem trade.
5. Stage 5 · Old French · medieval beryl "beryl", passed into French before reaching English.
6. Stage 6 · English · medieval beryl "a pale green to blue-green mineral, source of emerald and aquamarine", settled as the English name for the mineral family that includes emerald and aquamarine.