Adjacent Words

Onyx definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ON'YX, n. [Gr. a nail. L. onyx.] A semi-pellucid gem with variously colored zones or veins, a variety of chalcedony.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a chalcedony with alternating black and white bands; used in making cameos

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English oniche, onyx, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin onych-, onyx, from Greek, literally, claw, nail — more at nail Date: 14th century a translucent chalcedony in parallel layers of different colors

Britannica Concise

Striped, semiprecious variety of the silica mineral agate with white and black alternating bands. Other varieties include carnelian onyx, with white and red bands, and sardonyx, with white and brown bands. Its properties are the same as those of quartz. Onyx is used in carved cameos and intaglios because its layers can be cut to show a color contrast between the design and the background. It is found worldwide, but chiefly in India and S. America.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a semiprecious variety of agate with different colours in layers. Phrases and idioms: onyx marble banded calcite etc. used as a decorative material. Etymology: ME f. OF oniche, onix f. L f. Gk onux fingernail, onyx

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Onyx O"nyx, n. [L., fr. Gr. ? a claw, finger nail, a veined gem. See Nail, and cf. Onycha.] (Min.) Chalcedony in parallel layers of different shades of color. It is used for making cameos, the figure being cut in one layer with the next as a ground. Onyx marble, a banded variety of marble or calcium carbonate resembling onyx. It is obtained from Mexico.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Chalcedony Chal*ced"o*ny (k[a^]l*s[e^]d"[-o]*n[y^] or k[a^]l"s[-e]*d[-o]*n[y^]; 277), n.; pl. Chalcedonies (-n[i^]z). [ L. chalcedonius, fr. Gr. CHalkhdw`n Chalcedon, a town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzantium: cf. calc['e]doine, OE. calcidoine, casidoyne. Cf. Cassidony.] (Min.) A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax. [Written also calcedony.] Note: When chalcedony is variegated with with spots or figures, or arranged in differently colored layers, it is called agate; and if by reason of the thickness, color, and arrangement of the layers it is suitable for being carved into cameos, it is called onyx. Chrysoprase is green chalcedony; carnelian, a flesh red, and sard, a brownish red variety.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Onyx is a stone which can be various colours. It is used for making ornaments, jewellery, or furniture.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

a hail; claw; hoof, (Heb. shoham), a precious stone adorning the breast-plate of the high priest and the shoulders of the ephod (Ex. 28:9-12, 20; 35:27; Job 28:16; Ezek. 28:13). It was found in the land of Havilah (Gen. 2:12). The LXX. translates the Hebrew word by smaragdos, an emerald. Some think that the sardonyx is meant. But the onyx differs from the sardonyx in this, that while the latter has two layers (black and white) the former has three (black, white, and red).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

on'-iks o'-niks.

See STONES, PRECIOUS.