carbuncle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a painful cluster of boils; a red gem, especially a garnet

   A painful carbuncle had formed on the back of his neck.

Simplified etymology

Carbuncle comes through Old English from Latin carbunculus, “small coal,” a diminutive of carbo, “coal” or “charcoal.” The glowing-coal image was applied both to a red gemstone and to a red swelling resembling one.

From Old French carboncle, from Latin carbunculus ('small coal, a red gem'), a diminutive of carbō ('coal'), so named for the glowing-coal color of the gem.

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External links

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