coral

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A hard, stony substance formed in the sea by tiny animals, often building large reefs.

   Divers swam past the bright coral on the reef.

2. 2
   noun

   A pinkish-orange color, like that of red coral.

   She painted the walls a soft coral.

3. 3
   adj

   Having a pinkish-orange color.

   She wore a coral dress to the party.

From Old French coral (French corail), from Latin corallium, from Ancient Greek κοράλλιον (korállion, “coral”). Probably ultimately of Semitic origin, compare Hebrew גּוֹרָל (goral, “small pebble”), Arabic جَرَل (jaral, “small stone”), originally referring to the red variety found in the Mediterranean. Since ancient times, a common folk etymology, accepted by some earlier scholars, connected the word instead to Ancient Greek κόρη (kórē) (referring to Medusa). Beekes mentions both theories and considers the Semitic one convincing.

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