zarnich, n.

zarnich
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zarnich_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1921; not fully revised

# zarnichnoun

## Earlier version

- zarnich in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zarnich mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zarnich. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

#### Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

### How is the noun zarnich pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɑːnɪk/

### Where does the noun zarnich come from?

Earliest known use

early 1600s

The earliest known use of the noun zarnich is in the early 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for zarnich is from 1612, in the writing of Ben Jonson, poet and playwright.

zarnich is a borrowing from Arabic.

Etymons: Arabic zarnīkh.

### Nearby entries

1. Zarathustric, adj. 1848–
2. Zarathustrism, n. 1871–
3. zaratite, n. 1858–
4. zarcole, n. 1585–
5. zarda, n. 1899–
6. zardozi, n. 1871–
7. zarf | zurf, n. 1836–
8. zari, n. 1969–
9. zariba, n. 1849–
10. zariba, v. 1885–
11. zarnich, n.1612–
12. Zarp, n. 1895–
13. zarzuela, n. 1888–
14. zat, n. 1934–
15. zatch, n. 1950–
16. zawiya, n. 1836–
17. zawn, n. 1865–
18. zayat, n. 1823–
19. zayde, n. 1946–
20. zazen, n. 1727–
21. zazzy, adj. 1961–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Arabic.
Etymon: Arabic zarnīkh.
< Arabic zarnīkh, < Persian zernī orpiment, < zer gold.

## Meaning & use

1. 1612–
   A name for the yellow and red sulfides of arsenic, usually called respectively orpiment and realgar.
   1. 1612

      > Your Lato, Azoch, Zernich, Chibrit, Heautarit.

      B. Jonson, Alchemist ii. iii. sig. E2
   2. 1748

      > Bright red Zarnich, the Sandarach of Authors.

      J. Hill, General Natural History vol. I. 406
   3. 1867

      > In its native state it [sc. yellow arsenic] is used under the name of Zarnic or Zarnich.

      W. T. Brande & G. W. Cox, Dictionary of Science, Literature & Art (new edition) vol. III. 1052/2
   minerals
   1. realgar a1400–
      An arsenic-containing mineral that occurs as soft red masses and was formerly used as a pigment and in medicines. Also called red arsenic, red orp…
   2. resalgar c1405–1610
      = realgar, n.
   3. arsenic?a1425–
      More fully red arsenic. A sulfide of arsenic, AsS, occurring as a mineral in soft red masses and formerly used as a pigment and in medicines. Now…
   4. rosaker c1430–
      The mineral realgar (red arsenic).
   5. sandarac?1550–
      Red arsenic sulfide. = realgar, n.
   6. risagallum 1565–1868
      Realgar (red arsenic, red orpiment).
   7. resegall 1610–81
      = realgar, n.
   8. zarnich 1612–
      A name for the yellow and red sulfides of arsenic, usually called respectively orpiment and realgar.
   9. ruby of —— 1678–1874
      A red mineral containing the element specified; ruby of arsenic n. = realgar, n.
   10. red mundic 1748
       = realgar, n.
   11. ruby sulfur 1753–
       = realgar, n.
   12. ruby arsenic 1776–
       = realgar, n.; cf. ruby of arsenic n. at ruby, n.¹ A.3b, ruby sulfur, n.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. arsenic a1393–
      Μοre fully yellow arsenic: see yellow arsenic, n. 1. Arsenic trisulfide, As2S3, a bright yellow solid obtained as a mineral and formerly used as a…
   2. orpiment c1395–
      More fully yellow orpiment. Arsenic trisulfide, As2S3, a bright yellow mineral of the monoclinic system which occurs naturally as prismatic…
   3. auripigment a1398–1736
      A bright yellow mineral, the trisulfide of arsenic (As2S3), used by painters under the name of King's Yellow. Cf. arsenic, n. 1a.
   4. orpine 1548–1725
      The yellow mineral or pigment orpiment. Also figurative. Obsolete.
   5. golden earth 1555–1909
      a. An earth containing gold; gold ore; b. the mineral yellow arsenic; = orpiment, n. 1.
   6. zarnich 1612–
      A name for the yellow and red sulfides of arsenic, usually called respectively orpiment and realgar.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɑːnɪk/

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

## Forms

### Variant forms

Also 1600s zernich, 1800s zarnac, zarnec, zarneg, zarnek.

zarnich, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zarnich, n. was last modified in December 2024.