Forms: 7–8 carnelion, 9 carnelian. [A variant of CORNELIAN, altered under the influence of med.L. carneolus CARNEOL, or otherwise etymologized from L. carn-em flesh, with the notion of expressing ‘flesh-colored.’] CORNELIAN; a flesh-colored, deep red, or reddish-white variety of chalcedony.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth (1723), 22–3 (T.). The Common-Carnelion…. This has its Name from its Flesh-Colour; which is, in some of these Stones, paler, when ’tis call’d the female Carnelion; in others deeper, call’d the Male.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, II. 335. Carnelions much amaze one in so northern a latitude.
1816. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 463. The carnelion is an agate nearly transparent, of different shades.
1861. C. W. King, Ant. Gems (1866), 5. The Carnelian is a semi-transparent quartz of a dull red colour, arranged often in different shades.
