jasper

Where does the word "jasper" come from? It comes from Greek iaspis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Jasper’s story begins in Greek: iaspis meant “an opaque colored stone.” The name for an opaque, colorful variety of quartz. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as jaspre. Carried into French gemstone vocabulary. It reached English by 1300s as jasper. Settled as the English word for the opaque, patterned quartz. Today, jasper means an opaque, often patterned variety of quartz used as a gemstone.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient iaspis "an opaque colored stone", the name for an opaque, colorful variety of quartz.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval jaspre "an opaque colored gemstone", carried into French gemstone vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s jasper "an opaque, patterned variety of quartz", settled as the English word for the opaque, patterned quartz.