What does chrysoprase mean?
Chrysoprase is a translucent, apple-green variety of chalcedony, a form of microcrystalline quartz whose distinctive colouring comes from traces of nickel rather than from chromium or iron as in many other green stones. It is the rarest and most highly prized of the chalcedony varieties and has been used since antiquity for seals, beads, and ornamental carvings, appearing in ancient Greek and Roman jewellery and later in Renaissance and Art Nouveau pieces. Notable sources include Australia, Poland, Brazil, and the United States, with Queensland's deposits especially renowned. In modern usage the word appears chiefly in gemmology, jewellery retailing, and collecting circles, where it denotes both the raw material and finished stones cut as cabochons or beads. Its fresh green hue has long associated it with renewal, luck, and springtime.
nounA variety of chalcedony, an apple-green to leek-green gemstone coloured by nickel, used as a semiprecious ornamental stone and in jewellery.
- A translucent apple-green variety of chalcedony coloured by nickel, valued as a semiprecious gemstone.
"The antique brooch was set with a flawless cabochon of chrysoprase."
"The jeweller selected a large piece of chrysoprase for the pendant's centrepiece."
"Deposits of chrysoprase in central Australia made the region famous among collectors of fine green gems."
The plural is uncommon; it appears mainly when referring to multiple individual stones or specimens.
"Her collection included several fine Australian chrysoprases."
Prized since ancient times — Alexander the Great reportedly wore a lucky chrysoprase on his breastplate in battle.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chrysoprase
The word derives from Greek 'chrysos' meaning 'gold' and 'prason' meaning 'leek', so that chrysoprase literally means 'golden leek', a reference to its golden-green tint akin to the colour of a leek's leaves. The name passed into Latin as 'chrysoprasus' before entering European languages, appearing in English around the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries. The same Greek root 'chrysos' survives in words such as chrysalis and chrysanthemum, while 'prason' underlies the related mineral name prase.
How chrysoprase is actually used
A mineralogical and trade term, most often encountered in contexts of gems, jewellery, and collecting; it carries connotations of rarity and refined green colour. The plural is rare but takes standard -s.
Easily confused with chrysoprase
Prase is a duller leek-green quartz or chalcedony, while chrysoprase is the finer apple-green nickel-bearing variety of chalcedony.