coral English · revision 15395

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1305|origins=grc κοράλλιον}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɒɹəl/ ''(UK)''; /ˈkɔɹəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|coral]], [[bor|fro|coral]] (modern [[m|fr|corail]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|corallium]] (also [[m|la|corallum]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|κοράλλιον|tr=korállion]] (also kourálion),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) perhaps of Semitic origin; compare [[hbo|גּוֹרָל|tr=gōrāl|t=lot; originally a small stone for casting lots]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The hard skeleton secreted by certain marine polyps: about 1300 in Etymonline, before 1300 in Barnhart, about 1305 in the OED,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) at first especially the red coral of the Mediterranean, used as an ornament.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The red colour of coral is from the mid-15th century, as is the adjective, made of coral.^(Etymonline) Other kinds were later named from their colour, as white coral.^(OED 1989) A coral toy given to babies to help them teethe is from 1613.^(OED 1989) Coral reef is attested from 1745, and the coral snake, named for its red bands, from 1760.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1305 – coral.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-15th century – the colour coral.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1613 – a teething coral.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1745 – coral reef.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1760 – coral snake.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A hard stony substance formed from the [[skeleton|alt=skeletons]] of tiny sea animals, building up into [[reef|alt=reefs]] in warm seas.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of the marine [[polyp|alt=polyps]] that produce it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pinkish-red or reddish-orange colour.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of a deep pink to reddish-orange colour.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[coralloid]]

+ * [[corallike]]

+ * [[coralliferous]]

+ * [[coralline]]

+ * [[corallite]]

+ * [[coral fungus]]

+ * [[coral plant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[reef]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}