eorcnanstan

      Old English

      Alternative forms

      Etymology

      Compound of eorcnan "special, noble"(?) (more at erchan) and stan "stone". Parallels Old Norse jarknasteinn, which is generally regarded as a loan from Old English. Translates margarita in 9th century biblical glosses but is used generically as "precious stone, gem" in Beowulf (line 1208) and The Ruin (v. 36).

      Noun

      eorcnanstan

      1. precious stone, pearl

      References

      • Peter Kitson, 'Lapidary traditions in Anglo-Saxon England: part I, the background; the Old English Lapidary' in: Anglo-Saxon England, vol. 7, eds. Martin Biddle, Julian Brown, Peter Clemoes, Cambridge University Press, 2007, ISBN 9780521038645, 9-60 (fn. 5 p. 25).
      Last modified on 26 August 2012, at 08:53