Talk:emerald

The sanskrit etymology is dubious. Cf. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=emerald, which gives a common semitic root:

emerald c.1300, from O.Fr. emeraude, from M.L. esmaraldus, from L. smaragdus, from Gk. smaragdos "green gem," from Sem. baraq "shine" (cf. Heb. bareqeth "emerald," Arabic barq "lightning"). Skt. maragdam "emerald" is from the same source, as is Pers. zumurrud, whence Turk. zümrüd, source of Rus. izumrud "emerald."

88.77.159.142 01:50, 7 July 2009 (UTC)


 * What evidence does etymonline cite? I can't see how "baraq" could give rise to "smaragdos".  Webster's does seem to agree that the ultimate root is Semitic, but they trace it through a Prakrit language into Ancient Greek.  This seems to combine elements of both putative etymologies. --EncycloPetey 01:58, 7 July 2009 (UTC)