bloodstone

[ bluhd-stohn ]

/ ˈblʌdˌstoʊn /

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noun

a greenish variety of chalcedony with small bloodlike spots of red jasper scattered through it.

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Also called heliotrope.

Origin of bloodstone

First recorded in 1545–55; blood + stone

Words nearby bloodstone

blood sport, bloodstain, bloodstained, bloodstock, bloodstock industry, bloodstone, bloodstream, blood substitute, bloodsucker, blood sugar, blood test

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT BLOODSTONE

What does bloodstone mean?

Bloodstone is a dark green gemstone with red flecks. It ranges from semi-translucent to opaque.

Bloodstone is also called heliotrope. It’s considered a semiprecious gem, which is a label applied to a class of gems that have a commercial value that’s less than that of stones labeled precious, such as diamonds.

Bloodstone is one of the birthstones for the month of March, the other being aquamarine. It is associated with the zodiac sign Aries.

Example: Her birthday is in March, so I’m getting her a bloodstone pendant.

Where does bloodstone come from?

The first records of the word bloodstone come from around 1550. It’s named for its bloodlike spots.

Bloodstone is the dark-green variety of the mineral chalcedony, which is a kind of microcrystalline quartz. The red spots in bloodstone are flecks of jasper, another kind of quartz. Historically, bloodstone has been used to make carvings and statues, with its red flecks often being used to represent blood.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for bloodstone?

heliotrope

What are some words that share a root or word element with bloodstone?

blood
stone

What are some words that often get used in discussing bloodstone?

How is bloodstone used in real life?

Bloodstone is known for its blood-red spots. It’s the birthstone for the month of March.

Hey come and see my beautiful birthstone, it's called bloodstone and I love it very much pic.twitter.com/QTq4veWdid

— Paula⁷ MIN PD (@min_pa7) February 27, 2021

Roman silver gilt and incised bloodstone ring c. 3rd century ad. Private Collection pic.twitter.com/Cs2zBjHr6v

— Rome & Byzantium (@romebyzantium) July 21, 2020

Set with large and shiny, glossy bloodstone tablets (with the nicest red flecks!), these handsome vintage cufflinks are crafted in gold-TONED metal https://t.co/p8FU5TWXlx #jewelry #jewelrylovers #jewelryonetsy #mens #Mensfashion #cufflinks pic.twitter.com/0C0ZJ0zifB

— N.N. Light: Literary Promoter | Editor | Reviewer (@NNP_W_Light) April 30, 2018

Try using bloodstone!

True or False?

The specks of “blood” in bloodstone are flecks of copper.

How to use bloodstone in a sentence

I must show it to you; also another, a carved bloodstone set in very curiously wrought iron.
The Beauty|Mrs. Wilson Woodrow
"By the bloodstone on her finger" she must fail not in proving that undaunted courage was the jewel of her soul.
Mary Ware's Promised Land|Annie Fellows Johnston
The walls are of a reddish hue, burnt by centuries of sun into the colour of raw sienna or of bloodstone.
Egypt (La Mort De Philae)|Pierre Loti
A ring with a big bloodstone in the center, a bloodstone cunningly chiseled and marked, rested on the middle finger.
The Argus Pheasant|John Charles Beecham

By the bloodstone on my finger, I'll keep my oath until the going down of one more sun.
Mary Ware in Texas|Annie F. Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for bloodstone

bloodstone

/ (ˈblʌdˌstəʊn) /

noun

a dark-green variety of chalcedony with red spots: used as a gemstoneAlso called: heliotrope

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012