eˈchites
Also 7 echite.
[a. Gr. ἐχίτης, f. ἔχις viper.]
† 1. A precious stone, dark-green, red, or violet, with fabulous properties, found in India and Persia; cf. aetites. Obs.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvi. xxxviii. (1495) 565 Echites conteyneth and bredyth a nother stone wythin. 1567 J. Maplet Gr. Forest 6 Echites is a stone..without the which the Eagle can not bring forth her yong. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii. 40/1 The Echite is a stone..of a violet colour. 1731 Bailey vol. II, Echites, a precious stone, of a darkish-green colour, somewhat resembling a viper. |
2. Bot. A genus of climbing plants (family Apocynaceæ), ‘so called from its twisting habits’.
| 1731 Bailey vol. II, Echites, an herb, a kind of Clivers. 1858 Glenny Gard. Everyday Bk. 138/1 Echites are beautiful climbers. |