onyx

views updated May 29 2018

onyx Semi-precious variety of the mineral chalcedony, a form of agate. It has straight parallel bands. White and red forms are called carnelian onyx; white and brown, sardonyx. It is found mostly in India and South America.

Onyx

views updated Jun 11 2018

Onyx

A precious stone whose properties were believed to resemble those of jasper; it was also supposed to increase saliva in boys and cause bad dreams. If applied to the eye, it was believed to remove anything noxious.

The onyx was also believed to create strife, cause melancholy, and cure epilepsy. According to the Bible, an onyx was the eleventh stone in the breastplate of the High Priest (Exod. 28:20), but it is possible that this stone (in Hebrew, shoham ) is known today as beryl.

onyx

views updated May 21 2018

onyx a semi-precious variety of agate with different colours in layers. In the Bible it is one of the precious jewels said in Exodus 28:20 to have been set in the high priest's breastplate, and in Revelation 21:20 it is said to be one of the twelve jewels set in the wall of the New Jerusalem.

onyx

views updated May 08 2018

onyx (sardonyx) A mixture of chalcedonic (see CHALCEDONY) silica SiO2 and hydrous silica SiO2.nH2O; occurs as flat, banded varieties with white, grey, brown, red, and black bands.

onyx

views updated May 14 2018

on·yx / ˈäniks/ • n. a semiprecious variety of agate with different colors in layers.

onyx

views updated Jun 08 2018

onyx XIII (oniche). — OF. oniche, onix — L. acc. onycha, nom. onyx — Gr. ónukha, ónux NAIL, claw, onyx stone.