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ruby

Etymology and origin of the English word ruby

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
before 1310
Borrowed from
Old French rubi
Ultimate origin
Medieval Latin (rubinus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈruː.bi/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old French rubi (12th century; modern rubis),[2][3][4] probably from Medieval Latin rubīnus (lapis), red stone,[2][3][4] from Latin rubeus, red, related to ruber, red (see red).[2][3][5] Klein suggests the modern French rubis comes from a plural taken as a singular.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A rare, valuable red precious stone: before 1310 in the OED,[6] probably about 1300 as ribe and about 1325 as ruby;[2] as a surname from the late 12th century.[3]

Semantic evolution

As a term of high praise, chiefly for women, ruby is from before 1310 and now obsolete.[6] The adjective, of or like a ruby, is from about 1477,[2] and the deep glowing red colour from 1508,[2] the 1570s as a noun in Etymonline.[3] The jewel bearing of a watch is from 1875.[6]

Timeline

  • before 1310 – the gemstone.[6]
  • c. 1477 – ruby (adjective).[2]
  • 1508 – deep red.[2]
  • 1875 – a watch jewel.[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A deep red, clear variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone.
  2. Something made of ruby, such as a bearing in a watch.
  3. A deep red colour.

Adjective

  1. Deep red.

Word family

  • rubylike
  • rubythroat
  • rubious
  • ruby silver
  • ruby-crowned kinglet
  • ruby spinel
  • corundum
  • rouge
  • rubicund
  • rufous
  • rubric
  • russet
  • red
  • rubella
  • ruddy

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Ruby.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/ruby. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·