onyx meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

onyx

noun

/ˈɒnɪks/

Etymology From Middle English onix (c. 1300), earlier oniche (c. 1250), from Old French oniche or onix, from Latin onyx, from Ancient Greek ὄνυξ (ónux, “onyx”). Doublet of unguis.

Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Mineralogy, Natural sciences, Physical sciences A banded variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz.

People talk about using marble in the bathrooms. Marble wasn't good enough for use—we have onyx!2023 September 23, Tom Robbins, “Suite dreams”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1:

A jet-black color, named after the gemstone.

Near-synonyms: ebony, raven

Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Horaga.

Derived terms: onyx marble

onyx

adj

Etymology From Middle English onix (c. 1300), earlier oniche (c. 1250), from Old French oniche or onix, from Latin onyx, from Ancient Greek ὄνυξ (ónux, “onyx”). Doublet of unguis.

Jet-black; often, glossily so.

Near-synonyms: ebony, raven
And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone., Genesis, 2:12

1 more example

There was no moon, only stars set brilliantly in the soft black onyx of the sky : a black night and very silent on Cimiez ; and a black and silent prospect from the verandah […]1922, Michael Arlen, “3/7/2”, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:

Related terms: sardonyx