opal
UK[ˈəʊp(ə)l]US[ˈoʊp(ə)l]
n
A semi-precious gemstone, typically milky white or bluish, with a soft, internal play of rainbow-like colours.
Etymology
The word 'opal' has a long journey through languages, ultimately tracing back to the ancient Sanskrit term 'upalaḥ', meaning 'precious stone' or 'gem'. This term passed into Greek as 'opallios', referring specifically to the iridescent gem, and then into Latin as 'opalus'. The word entered English in the late 16th century, retaining its core meaning as the name for this unique, non-crystalline gemstone prized for its shifting, internal play of spectral colours. Its history is a direct line of transmission for a specific natural object, with no meaningful morphemic segmentation in modern English.
Analysis
The word 'opal' is a simplex loanword. It is borrowed directly from Latin 'opalus', which itself came from Greek 'opallios', likely derived from an older source.
Examples
Her necklace featured a stunning fire opal that shimmered with orange and green hues.
Australia is the world's primary source of precious opal.
The opal's unique play-of-colour is caused by the diffraction of light through its internal silica structure.