Matara diamondn.
/ˌmɑːtərə ˈdʌɪ(ə)mənd/, U.S. /ˌmɑdərə ˈdaɪ(ə)mən(d)/ A colourless or smoky variety of zircon used as a gem; = jargon n.2 Also: a stone of this variety.
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the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > nesosilicates > [noun] > zircon group > zircon
jargon1769
zircon1794
zirconite1806
Matara diamond1807
malacon1854
hyacinth1879
lavenite1886
1807 J. Cordiner Descr. Ceylon I. i. 14 There is no real diamond on the island, but a white tourmalin..is sold under that name. It is commonly distinguished by the title of the Ceylon or Matura diamond.
1818 J. Davy in Trans. Geol. Soc. (1821) 5 320 The zircon family..is confined to the districts of Matura and Saffragam; it is most abundant in the former, as is indicated by the popular name, ‘Matura Diamond’.
1843 J. W. Bennett Ceylon & its Capabilities xl. 328 White Zircon is here called ‘Matura diamond’.
1880 Encycl. Brit. XIII. 532/1 The Singalese variety [of pale jargoons], found chiefly at Matura, has been termed ‘Matura diamond’.
1936 L. J. Spencer tr. M. Bauer Precious Stones xvii. 189 Much of the colourless zircon..is known as ‘Matura diamond’.
1962 R. Webster Gems I. vii. 118 The colourless stones..were..called by the misnomer ‘Matara diamonds’, a term which should now be forgotten.
1991 ‘J. Gash’ Great Calif. Game (1992) iv. 30 People used to call colourless zircons Matara diamonds, after a town there.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1807