chrysolite
(ˈkrɪsəlaɪt)
Forms: 4 crisolite, -lyte, -lide, crysolyt(e, 6 chrisolite, (? chrisalet), 6, 9 crysolite, 7 crisolite, chrysolith, 8 crisolete, 9 chrysolithe, 6– chrysolite.
[ME. crisolite, a. OF. crisolite, ad. med.L. crisolitus, for L. chrȳsolith-us, a. Gr. χρῡσόλιθος a bright yellow stone (prob. topaz), f. χρῡσό-ς gold + λίθος stone: since the 16th c. refashioned after Latin.]
A name formerly given to several different gems of a green colour, such as zircon, tourmaline, topaz, and apatite. Since about 1790 restricted to the precious olivine, a silicate of magnesia and iron found in lava. Its colour varies from pale yellowish-green (the precious stone) to dark bottle-green.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 5682 Jacynkte, piropes, crisolites. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. A. 1008 Þe crysolyt, Þe sevenþe gemme in fundament. 1382 Wyclif Rev. xxi. 20 The seuenthe, crisolitus [1535 Coverd., a Crysolite, 1611 Chrysolite]. 1604 Shakes. Oth. v. ii. 144 One entyre and perfect Chrysolite. 1604 Dekker Kings' Entert. Wks. 1873 I. 291 So did they..shine afarre off, like crysolites. 1747 Dingley Gems in Phil. Trans. XLIV. 503 The Chrysolite is of a light-green Grass-colour, and is supposed to have been the Beryl of the Ancients. 1813 Scott Trierm. iii. xxvi, Here their varied hues unite In the changeful chrysolite. 1861 C. King Ant. Gems (1866) 56 The ancient Topaz was the present Chrysolite. 1868 Dana Min. (1880) 258 The Chrysolithus of Pliny was probably topaz; and his topaz our chrysolite. |
b. attrib. Of the colour or aspect of chrysolite.
| 1821 Southey Vis. Judgem. i, Green as a stream..whose pure and chrysolite waters Flow o'er a schistous bed. |
2. Applied with qualifications to allied minerals.
iron chrysolite: the mineral fayalite. iron manganese chrysolite: a mineral akin to Fayalite. titaniferous chrysolite: a massive reddish-brown mineral having some resemblance to Boltonite.