onyx

Where does the word "onyx" come from? It comes from Greek onyx, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Onyx’s story begins in Greek: onyx meant “a fingernail, claw.” Literally fingernail, claw, describing the stone's pale, layered appearance. It reached English by 1300s as onyx. Greek 'fingernail', from the stone's pale banded colour. Today, onyx means a banded variety of chalcedony, often black and white.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient onyx "a fingernail, claw", literally fingernail, claw, describing the stone's pale, layered appearance.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s onyx "a banded black and white gemstone", Greek 'fingernail', from the stone's pale banded colour.