garnet

 
Pronunciation: /ˈgɑːnɪt/

noun

  • a precious stone consisting of a deep red vitreous silicate mineral: [as modifier]: a garnet ring
  • [mass noun] Mineralogy any of a class of silicate minerals including this, which belong to the cubic system and have the general chemical formula A3B2(SiO4)3 (A and B being respectively divalent and trivalent metals).

Origin:

Middle English: probably via Middle Dutch from Old French grenat, from medieval Latin granatus, perhaps from granatum (see pomegranate), because the garnet is similar in colour to the pulp of the fruit