turquoise
ターコイズ
解説 Definition
turquoise は、青緑色の宝石、またはその宝石に似た青緑色を指します。日本語の「ターコイズ」は色名として使われることが多いですが、英語では宝石そのものを表す名詞としてもよく使います。
A blue-green mineral valued as a gemstone and commonly used in jewelry. The same word also names the characteristic blue-green color, but in expressions such as “a turquoise,” it refers to an individual stone.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
日本語では色名の印象が強いものの、例文の a turquoise や turquoise from several regions は青緑色の「宝石そのもの」を指します。フランス語の「トルコの石」という由来を手掛かりに、トルコ経由で欧州へ運ばれた青緑の石を想像し、色を表す用法と区別して覚えましょう。
Japanese often uses ターコイズ mainly as a color name, but English turquoise also commonly names the gemstone itself. Notice the grammar: a turquoise, one turquoise in a necklace, or turquoise from several regions refers to stones or gemstone material. Connect the word with its French history as the “Turkish stone,” named because the material reached Europe through Turkey. Picture a blue-green stone traveling along that trade route and then being set in a ring. That image links the gemstone meaning with the color later named after it.
例文
She wore a ring with a small turquoise.
彼女は小さなターコイズのついた指輪をしていました。
The necklace has one turquoise in the center.
そのネックレスは中央にターコイズが一つ付いています。
This shop sells turquoise from several different regions.
この店ではいくつかの地域から来たターコイズを売っています。
turquoise の類義語・関連語
派生語
紛らわしい語
turquoise の語源・成り立ち Etymology
turquoise はフランス語で、本来は pierre turquoise『トルコの石』の省略形です。ペルシャ産の宝石がトルコ経由で欧州に入ったためで、『トルコ渡りの青緑の石』から石名にも色名にもなりました。関連語は Turkey, Turkish。
Turquoise came into English from French turquoise, shortened from pierre turquoise, literally “Turkish stone.” The gemstone was associated with Turkey because material from Persia and nearby regions reached Europe through Turkish trade routes. The name therefore refers to the route by which Europeans encountered the stone, not necessarily its geological origin. The gemstone name later also became the English name for its distinctive blue-green color.
同じレベルの英単語をもっと
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