Etymology Dictionary

JACINTH,  a precious stone.  (F.,—L.—Gk.)   In the Bible, Rev. ix. 17; xxi. 20.   'In Rev. ix. 17, the hyacinthine, or dark purple, colour is referred to, and not the stone; as in Sidney's Arcadia (B. i. p. 59, l. 28), where mention is made of "Queene Helen, whose Iacinth haire curled by nature," &c.;' Bible Wordbook, which see.   [But I should explain 'iacinth haire,' like 'hyacinthine locks' in Milton, P. L. iv. 301, to mean 'hair curling like the hyacinth,' without reference to colour.]   M. E. iacynte, Wyclif, 2 Chron. ii. 7 (earlier version), iacynet (later version).   Gower has jacinctus; C. A. iii. 112.—O. F. jacinthe, 'the precious stone called a jacint;' Cot.—Lt. hyacinthus, a jacinth, Rev. xxi. 20 (Vulgate).—Gk. ὑάκινθος; Rev. xxi. 20.   See Hyacinth.   ¶ Thus jacinth is for hyacinth, as Jerome for Hierome or Hieronymus, and Jerusalem for Hierusalem.