Forms: α. 4–6 corneline, 6 cornalyn, (cornelling), 7 cornal(l)in(e, (corrnalin, corniolin, cornerine); β. 6 cornelye, cornellis, -es; γ. 6 cornellion, 7 cornelion, 7– cornelian. See also CARNELIAN. [Refashioned in the termination from ME. corneline, a. 15th c. F. corneline (now cornaline) = Pr., OSp. and Pg. cornelina, Sp. cornerina, It. cornalina (in Florio cornelino). The med.L. name was corneolus, common in writers de Nat. Rerum and de Lapidibus from Constantinus Africanus a. 1087 onwards; later also cornelius (‘corneolus, quem quidam cornelium dicunt’ Albertus Magnus, 13th c.). See Schade, Altd. Wbch., App. 1378. With corneolus go It. corniola, OF. cornéole, MHG. corniôl, Eng. CORNEOLE.
Diez referred the name to L. cornu horn (cf. esp. L. corneolus horn-like, dim. of corneus of horn, horny), ‘because the color is (sometimes) like that of the finger-nail,’ comparing ONYX, Gr. ὄνυξ nail. But grave objections to this are pointed out by Schade, who thinks the stone had its name from its likeness in color to the Cornel-berry or Cornelian-cherry, L. cornum, adj. corneus; in It. corniola was both the fruit and the stone.
Late in the 15th c. the L. corneolus was perverted to carneolus, after carnem flesh, carneus flesh-colored; thence an occas. MHG. carneôl, and the Eng. by-form CARNELIAN.]
A variety of chalcedony, a semi-transparent quartz, of a deep dull red, flesh, or reddish white color; used for seals, etc.
α. c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xxvii. 276. On is of Oniche … another of Corneline.
1538. Leland, Itin., VII. 57. Cornelines and other Stonys wel entaylid for Seales.
1578. Inv. Royal Wardrobe (1815), 263 (Jam.). A string of cornellinges sett in gold.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 613. How to make a Sardonyx of a Cornalline.
1607. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. Magnif., 919. About his neck hangs a great cornaline.
1648. Gage, West Ind., xii. (1655), 45. Agats, Cornerines, Emeralds.
β. 1563. Middlesex County Rec., I. 48. A precious stone called ‘a cornelye.’
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 19. The Sardye … when it is most pure and cleane, it is called Carneolus; of some … the Cornelles.
1601. Chester, Love’s Mart., lxxxvii. A Dialogue (1878), 101. Cornellis … and Corrall.
γ. 1568. Lanc. Wills, II. 233. My ringe of gold wch I commonly weare called a cornellion.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. i. 51. Berylls and Cornelians … are subject unto fusion.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 347. The Fitchtelberg mountains yield good cornelians.
1819. Byron, Juan, I. cxcviii. The motto, cut upon a white cornelian.
b. The color of this stone.
1718. Ozell, Tournefort’s Voy., II. 343. The light which passes through is sensibly reddish … inclining to a cornaline.
c. attrib.
1757. Dyer, Fleece, II. 580. That shine With topaz, sapphire, and cornelian rays.
1859. Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, 160. A large cornelian seal.
