English
ruby
Ruby comes from Old French rubi, from Medieval Latin rubīnus ‘carbuncle, ruby’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- ‘red’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁rewdʰ-‘red’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁rudʰéh₁ti‘to be red’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*ruðēōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CErubeō‘to be red or reddish’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErubeus‘red’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500rubīnus‘carbuncle, ruby’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400rubi
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ruby‘a ruby’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1606same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁rewdʰ-‘red’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁rudʰéh₁ti‘to be red’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*ruðēōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CErubeō‘to be red or reddish’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErubeus‘red’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500rubīnus‘carbuncle, ruby’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400rubi
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ruby‘a ruby’
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1606same form
Earliest quotation: c. 1606, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Macbeth: “When now I thinke you can behold such sights,…”
The story
Etymology 1 sense 7 (‘pronunciation guide’) is from the British 5½-point type size (etymology 1 sense 6), used for annotations in printed documents.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- ‘red’
red, reddish, rust, rowan, rouse, roux, redness, corroborate, russel, roan, ruddy, erythema, robusta, russet, rubric, rufous, rubella, ruddock, 34 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁rudʰéh₁ti ‘to be red’
through Latin rubeus ‘red’
Today it means
noun A clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- / ruby