A hard, dark mineral used to make sandpaper, grinding wheels, or polishing tools for smoothing and sharpening surfaces.
From Latin 'smyris,' derived from Greek origins. The word came into English in the 15th century from trade with the Middle East where emery deposits were mined.
Emery is so hard that it's actually used to sharpen steel and other hard materials—it's only softer than diamond and sapphire, which is why 'emery board' nail files work: you're using one of nature's hardest materials to smooth your nails!
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