turquoise
UK /ˈtɜː(ɹ).k(w)ɔɪz/ · US /ˈtɝ.k(w)ɔɪz/ noun, adjective
Forms turquoises Turkies
- noun (countable) A sky-blue, greenish-blue, or greenish-gray semi-precious gemstone.
- noun (countable and uncountable) A pale greenish-blue colour, like that of the gemstone.
- adjective Made of turquoise (the gemstone).
- adjective Having a pale greenish-blue colour.
Synonyms
blue-green green-blue greenish blue turquoise blue aqua aquamarine cobalt blue peacock blue
Etymology
From Middle French turquoise, from Old French (pierre) turquoise (“Turkish (stone)”), from turc + -ois. The stone, mined near Nishapur in the Khorasan region of Persia, was originally brought to Europe through Turkey. Doublet of Turkish.
Compare typologically copper (<< Ancient Greek Κύπρος (Kúpros, “Cyprus”)).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A hydrous phosphate of alumina containing a little copper; calaite. It has a blue, or bluish green, color, and usually occurs in reniform masses with a botryoidal surface. [Formerly written also turcois, and turkois.]
- adjective Having a fine light blue color, like that of choice mineral turquoise.
Etymology [F. turquoise; cf. Pr. & Sp. turquesa, It. turchese, turchina, LL. turchesius, turchina; -- so called because first brought from Turkey. See 1st Turkey.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “turquoise”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details