Word Study
garnet
CIDE DICTIONARY
garnet, n. [OE. gernet, grenat, OF. grenet,grenat, F. grenat, LL. granatus, fr. L. granatum pomegranate, granatus having many grains or seeds, fr. granum grain, seed. So called from its resemblance in color and shape to the grains or seeds of the pomegranate. See Grain, and cf. Grenade, Pomegranate.].
A mineral having many varieties differing in color and in their constituents, but with the same crystallization (isometric), and conforming to the same general chemical formula. The commonest color is red, the luster is vitreous, and the hardness greater than that of quartz. The dodecahedron and trapezohedron are the common forms. [1913 Webster]
" There are also white, green, yellow, brown, and black varieties. The garnet is a silicate, the bases being aluminia lime (grossularite, essonite, or cinnamon stone), or aluminia magnesia (pyrope), or aluminia iron (almandine), or aluminia manganese (spessartite), or iron lime (common garnet, melanite, allochroite), or chromium lime (ouvarovite, color emerald green). The transparent red varieties are used as gems. The garnet was, in part, the carbuncle of the ancients. Garnet is a very common mineral in gneiss and mica slate." [1913 Webster]
garnet, n. [Etymol. unknown.].
A tackle for hoisting cargo in or out. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
garnet, n. a vitreous silicate mineral, esp. a transparent deep-red kind used as a gem.
Etymology
ME f. OF grenat f. med.L granatum POMEGRANATE, from its resemblance to the pulp of the fruit
ROGET THESAURUS
garnet
Jewelry
N jewel, jewelry, jewellery, bijoutry, bijou, bijouterie, trinket, fine jewelry, costume jewelry, junk jewelry, gem, gemstone, precious stone, necklace, bracelet, anklet, earring, locket, pendant, charm bracelet, ring, pinky ring, carcanet, chain, chatelaine, broach, pin, lapel pin, torque, diamond, brilliant, rock, beryl, emerald, chalcedony, agate, heliotrope, girasol, girasole, onyx, plasma, sard, sardonyx, garnet, lapis lazuli, opal, peridot, tourmaline, chrysolite, sapphire, ruby, synthetic ruby, spinel, spinelle, balais, oriental, oriental topaz, turquois, turquoise, zircon, cubic zirconia, jacinth, hyacinth, carbuncle, amethyst, alexandrite, cat's eye, bloodstone, hematite, jasper, moonstone, sunstone, pearl, cultured pearl, fresh-water pearl, mother of pearl, coral, jeweler, gemologist, minerologist, lapidary, lapidarian, gemology, gemmology, minerology, bejeweled, diamond, (gemstones), gemological.For further exploring for "garnet" in Webster Dictionary Online