Where does “gemstone” come from?
gemstone (English) comes from Middle English gimstone, from Middle English ȝimston, from Old English gimstān, from Old English stān, from Old Norse Veggr, from Proto-Germanic wajjuz, from Proto-Indo-European wh̥₁yús, from Proto-Indo-European weh₁y- — to twist, wind, weave, plait; to wrap, enclose,...
gemstone (English): A gem, usually made of minerals
Definitions
- A gem, usually made of minerals
Ancestry of “gemstone”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | gimstone | — |
| 2 | Middle English | ȝimston | — |
| 3 | Old English | gimstān | a gem; jewel; precious stone |
| 4 | Old English | stān | stone, rock |
| 5 | Old Norse | Veggr | name of a dwarf |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | wajjuz | wall |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wh̥₁yús | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | weh₁y- | to twist, wind, weave, plait; to wrap, enclose,... |