Meaning and Origin
What does the name Onyx mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Onyx
User Submitted Origins
Greek
68%
English
26%
African
6%
User Submitted Meanings
- 3 submissions from all over the world agree the name Onyx means "Gemstone".
- A submission from Florida, U.S. says the name Onyx means "it is a gemstone" and is of English origin.
- According to a user from North Carolina, U.S., the name Onyx is of Latin origin and means "A dark, dusky gemstone".
- A user from Canada says the name Onyx means "Protector".
- A submission from California, U.S. says the name Onyx means "A character from Wings of Fire. Tried to steal the throne from Thorn".
- A user from Pennsylvania, U.S. says the name Onyx means "Nail, claw".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun O"nyx
Senses
- [Min] Chalcedony in parallel layers of different shades of color. It is used for making cameos, the figure being cut in one layer with the next as a ground.
- Same as Mexican onyx.
- A deep jet-black color.
Etymology: L., fr. Gr. � a claw, finger nail, a veined gem. See Nail, and cf. Onycha
adjective o"nyx
Deep, jet-black.
Other Dictionary Sources
- A chalcedony with alternating black and white bands; used in making cameos
Wiktionary
From Middle English onix (c. 1300), earlier oniche (c. 1250), from Old French oniche or onix, from Latin onyx, from Ancient Greek ὄνυξ (ónux, “onyx”).
- (mineralogy) A banded variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz.
- A jet-black color, named after the gemstone.
- onyx colour:
- Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Horaga.
onyx was also found in the following language(s): Latin, Middle English, and Portuguese