carat

Meaning

Noun

• A unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, equivalent to 200 milligrams.
• Any of several units of weight, varying from 189 to 212 mg, the weight of a carob seed.
• A measure of the purity of gold, pure gold being 24 carats.

Origin

• From Middle French carat, from Italian carato, from Arabic قِيرَاط ("carat") (and meaning other small units as well, such as an inch), from Ancient Greek κεράτιον ("carob seed"), diminutive form of κέρας. karat.