coral

Meanings

Noun

• Any of many species of marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa, most of which build hard calcium carbonate skeletons and form colonies, or a colony belonging to one of those species.
• A hard substance made of the skeletons of these organisms.
• A somewhat yellowish pink colour; the colour of red coral (Corallium rubrum (species)) of the Mediterranean Sea, commonly used as an ornament or gem.
• The ovaries of a cooked lobster; so called from their colour.
• A piece of coral, usually fitted with small bells and other appurtenances, used by children as a plaything.

Adjective

• Made of coral.
• Having the orange-pink colour of coral.

Origin

• From Old French coral (French corail), from Latin corallium, from Ancient Greek κοράλλιον ("coral"). Probably ultimately of Semitic origin, compare Hebrew גּוֹרָל ("small pebble"), Arabic جَرَل ("small stone"), originally referring to the red variety found in the Mediterranean. Since ancient times, a common folk etymology, accepted by some earlier scholars, connected the word instead to Ancient Greek κόρη (referring to Medusa). Beekes mentions both theories and considers the Semitic one convincing.