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.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images