cymophane

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a translucent yellowish or greenish variety of chrysoberyl displaying chatoyancy, commonly called cat's-eye

   A narrow band of light moved across the cymophane as the gem was turned.

Coined in mineralogy from Greek kyma, 'wave,' + -phane, 'appearing or showing,' for the floating, wavelike band of light seen in the stone. Rene Just Hauy applied the name to chatoyant chrysoberyl around the end of the eighteenth century.

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