opal

Where does the word "opal" come from? It comes from Sanskrit upala, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Opal’s story begins in Sanskrit: upala meant “a precious stone.” A precious stone, the root behind the iridescent gem. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as opalus. Pliny the Elder described opal as combining the colours of all gems. It reached English by 1500s as opal. Settled as the English word for the iridescent gemstone. Today, opal means a gemstone known for its iridescent play of color.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient upala "a precious stone", a precious stone, the root behind the iridescent gem.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient opalus "an iridescent gemstone", Pliny the Elder described opal as combining the colours of all gems.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s opal "an iridescent gemstone", settled as the English word for the iridescent gemstone.