Forms: 4 crisolite, -lyte, -lide, crysolyt(e, 6 chrisolite, (? chrisalet), 6, 9 crysolite, 7 crisolite, chrysolith, 8 crisolete, 9 chrysolithe, 6– chrysolite. [ME. crisolite, a. OF. crisolite, ad. med.L. crisolitus, for L. chrȳsolith-us, a. Gr. χρῡσόλιθος a bright yellow stone (prob. topaz), f. χρῡσό-ς gold + λίθος stone: since the 16th c. refashioned after Latin.]
A name formerly given to several different gems of a green color, such as zircon, tourmaline, topaz and apatite. Since about 1790 restricted to the precious olivine, a silicate of magnesia and iron found in lava. Its color varies from pale yellowish-green (the precious stone) to dark bottle-green.
c. 1300. K. Alis., 5682. Jacynkte, piropes, crisolites.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 1008. Þe crysolyt, Þe sevenþe gemme in fundament.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. xxi. 20. The seuenthe, crisolitus [1535 Coverd., a Crysolite, 1611 Chrysolite].
1604. Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 144. One entyre and perfect Chrysolite.
1604. Dekker, Kings’ Entert., Wks. 1873, I. 291. So did they … shine afarre off, like crysolites.
1747. Dingley, Gems, in Phil. Trans., XLIV. 503. The Chrysolite is of a light-green Grass-colour, and is supposed to have been the Beryl of the Ancients.
1813. Scott, Trierm., III. xxvi. Here their varied hues unite In the changeful chrysolite.
1861. C. W. King, Ant. Gems (1866), 56. The ancient Topaz was the present Chrysolite.
1868. Dana, Min. (1880), 258. The Chrysolithus of Pliny was probably topaz; and his topaz our chrysolite.
b. attrib. Of the color or aspect of chrysolite.
1821. Southey, Vis. Judgem., i. Green as a stream … whose pure and chrysolite waters Flow o’er a schistous bed.
2. Applied with qualifications to allied minerals.
Iron Chrysolite: the mineral FAYALITE. Iron manganese chrysolite: a mineral akin to Fayalite. Titaniferous chrysolite: a massive reddish-brown mineral having some resemblance to Boltonite.
