jacinth

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a transparent reddish-orange or reddish-brown variety of zircon used as a gemstone

   The gold pendant was set with a warm orange jacinth.

2. 2
   noun

   historical or biblical: a precious stone called hyacinth, whose exact modern mineral identity may be uncertain

   The old translation lists jacinth among the foundation stones of the holy city.

From Middle English jacinct through Old French and Latin jacinthus from Greek hyakinthos, a flower and gemstone name. It is a doublet of hyacinth. Historical writers applied the gem term inconsistently, while modern jacinth usually denotes reddish-orange zircon.

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