From Old French topace (compare French topaze), from Ancient Greek τόπαζος (tópazos).
Meanings
(uncountable, usually) A silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine, usually tinted by impurities.
(uncountable, usually) An often clear, yellowish-brown gemstone cut from this.
In the market‐place stand the fruitsellers, who sell all kinds of fruit: ripe figs, with their bruised purple flesh, melons, smelling of musk and yellow as topazes, citrons and rose‐apples and clusters of white grapes, round red‐gold oranges, and oval lemons of green gold. 1891, Oscar Wilde, A House of Pomegranates, Moffat, Yard and Company, published 1918, page 123:
Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade. 2012 March 14, Lee A. Groat, “Gemstones”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 14 Jun 2012, page 128:
(uncountable, usually) A yellowish-brown color, like that of the gemstone.
(uncountable, usually) Or (gold or yellow), in blazoning by precious stones.
Elgin. Topaz a Saltier and Chief Ruby, on a Canton Pearl a Lyon Rampant Saphyr, which last is their paternal Coat; and the Field Topaz, and Saltier, and Chief Ruby, was the Arms of King Robert the Bruce, they altering the Field from Pearl (as he bore it) to Topaz. / Eglington. Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Saphyr three Flower-de-Liss Topaz, for Montgomery; 2d and 3d, Ruby three Anulets Topaz', ston'd Saphyr, for the Title of Eglington; […] 1720, Francis Nichols, Rudiments of Honour, page 296:
(1) Pearl, a Cross, Ruby, with the Effigies of our Saviour thereon, Topaz, born in Memory of one of the Family's fighting against the Turks. (2) Topaz, a Chief Indented, Saphire. (3) Ruby, three covered Cups, Topaz […] 1754, John Lodge, The Peerage of Ireland; Or, a Genealogical History of the ..., page 71:
The Field is Ruby, on a Bend Topaz, three Martlets Diamond. […] 4. Pearl, on a Bend Diamond, nine Annulets conjoined in three Links Topaz. 1726, John Guillim, The Banner Display'd; Or, an Abridgment of Guillim, page 504:
(uncountable, usually) Either of two species of very large hummingbirds in the genus Topaza.
(uncountable, usually) A ruby-topaz hummingbird, Chrysolampis mosquitus, the male of which has bright ruby feathers on the head and topaz on the throat
Various theories. Hobson-Jobson mentions as possibilities a corruption of Persian (from Turkish) top-chi, "gunner", or a connection with topee, from the hats they wore.
Meanings
(British, India, historical) A black Catholic soldier in the British Army.