realgar

Where does the word "realgar" come from? It comes from Arabic rahj al-ghar, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1390s).

Realgar’s story begins in Arabic: rahj al-ghar meant “powdery arsenic mineral.” Literally "powder of the mine," or "cave dust". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as realgar. Arabic 'rahj al-ghar', powder of the cave; the orange mineral was used as a pigment and poison. It reached English by 1390s as realgar. Entered English mineralogy for the red arsenic ore. Today, realgar means a soft, red mineral consisting of arsenic sulfide, historically used as a pigment.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval rahj al-ghar "powdery arsenic mineral", literally "powder of the mine," or "cave dust".
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval realgar "arsenic sulfide mineral", Arabic 'rahj al-ghar', powder of the cave; the orange mineral was used as a pigment and poison.
3. Stage 3 · Middle English · 1390s realgar "red arsenic sulfide mineral", entered English mineralogy for the red arsenic ore.