sunstone en · NOUN
Etymology
sun + stone. Compare Icelandic sólarsteinn.
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) A translucent form of feldspar having flakes of hematite, used as an ornamental stone.
- (countable, uncountable) A stone, possibly Icelandic spar, said in late medieval sources to have been used by navigators in the Viking Age and later to find the location of the sun in an overcast sky, possibly via polarization of light.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sunstones | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
aventurine · aventurin · avanturine · moonstone
Synonyms
Translations (2)
grc κεραύνιος (a translucent form of feldspar with flakes of hematite) · de Sonnenstein (navigation aid)