ruby

Where does the word "ruby" come from? It comes from Latin rubeus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Ruby’s story begins in Latin: rubeus meant “red.” Red, describing the deep red gemstone. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as rubi. Carried into French gemstone vocabulary. It reached English by 1300s as ruby. Settled as the English word for the red gemstone. Today, ruby means a deep red precious gemstone, a variety of corundum.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient rubeus "red", red, describing the deep red gemstone.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval rubi "a deep red precious gemstone", carried into French gemstone vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s ruby "a deep red precious gemstone", settled as the English word for the red gemstone.