A reddish-brown or orange precious stone (a variety of chalcedony) often used in jewelry and carved decorative objects.
From the Latin 'cornum' (cornelian cherry) through Old French, though the stone may have been named for its color resembling the fruit. The spelling evolved from 'corneline' and 'carnelian' in Middle English.
Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Muslims all carved cornelian into seals and amulets because they believed the stone had protective powers—and it's still incredibly popular in fine jewelry!
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