carbuncle

Definition

A deep-red or fiery colored garnet or other dark red precious stone, especially when cut cabochon.

Etymology

From Middle English carbuncle, charbocle, from Old French carbuncle, charbuncle, from Latin carbunculus (“a small coal; a reddish kind of precious stone; a kind of tumor”), diminutive of carbō (“a coal, charcoal”). Doublet of Garfinkel and Garfunkel.

Example Sentences

• "With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus […]"
• "And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones."
• "His turban, or mandil [mandīl], was of finest white silk interwoven with gold, bestudded with pearl[s] and carbuncles; […]"

Related Words