peridot
(ˈpɛrɪdɒt)
Forms: 4 peridod, (penitot), 4–5 peritot(e, (pelidod(de), 5 perydo, perydote, -tote; 8–9 peridot(e, (9 peritot).
[a. F. péridot, in OF. peritot (1220 in Du Cange), peridol, -don, peredo, pelido (Godef.), in med. (Anglo-)L. peradota (1272 in Du Cange).
The uncertain forms and foreign appearance of the word have suggested an Oriental origin; but there appears to be no valid basis for the conjecture of its identity with Arabic farīdat ‘pearl, precious stone’.]
† a. In ME., A name of the chrysolite. Obs. (bef. 1500). b. (From Fr. after 1700.) A jeweller's term for the variety of chrysolite called olivine.
| [1265 Wardrobe Acc. on Pipe Roll 53 Hen. III m. 2 dorso, j Iaspis cum cassa et j anulus cum peridota et j saphirus. 1348 Test. Ebor. (Surtees) I. 51 Unum anulum cum peridod imposito. 1358 Ibid. 70 Annulum meum aureum cum lapide vocato pelidod.] 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1472 Penitotes, & pynkardines, ay perles bitwene. c 1400 Mandeville (1839) xx. 219 The grene ben of Emeraudes, of Perydos [F. peridoz], and of Crisolytes. c 1400 Siege of Troy 1496 in Archiv neu. Spr. LXXII. 47 With Charbuncles that shynes bryght And Perytotes of moche myght. c 1420 Anturs of Arth. xxxi. (Irel. MS.), His polans with his pelidoddes were poudert to pay. c 1460 Emare 155 Deamondes and koralle, Perydotes and crystall, And gode garnettes bytwene. |
| b. 1706 Phillips, Peridot (Fr.), a precious Stone of a greenish Colour. 1788 tr. Cronstedt's Min. (ed. 2) I. 142 The oriental crysolite and peridot are the very same gem. 1811 Pinkerton Petral. II. 31 The common chrysolite, or peridot of the French. 1877 W. Jones Finger-ring 247 A gold ring with a stone called Peritot. 1885 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 534/1 Peridote, a name applied by jewellers to the green transparent varieties of olivine. When yellow, or yellowish-green, the stone is generally known as ‘chrysolite’. |
| attrib. 1874 Dawkins in Ess. Owens Coll. Maunch. v. 136 Identity of composition may be traced between the meteorite of Chassigny and the peridot rock of New Zealand. |
Hence
periˈdotic a., pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing peridot.
| 1880 Mineral. Mag. III. p. ix (heading) On some peridotic rocks from the island of St. Paul's. 1891 Murray & Renard in Rep. Sci. Results Voy. H.M.S. Challenger: Deep-Sea Deposits vi. 374 Manganese is rarer in these rocks, but is found as a constituent of pyroxenic, amphibolic, and peridotic minerals. |