chalcedony Meaning, Definition & Usage

Chal*ced"o*ny noun

Etymology

L. chalcedonius, fr. Gr. Chalcedon, a town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzantium: cf. calcédoine, OE. calcidoine, casidoyne. Cf. Cassidony.

Wordforms

plural Chalcedonies

Definitions

1. (Min.) A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax. Written also calcedony. ✍ 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.