First published 1921; not fully revised
zarnichnoun
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
- Zarathustric, adj.1848–
- Zarathustrism, n.1871–
- zaratite, n.1858–
- zarcole, n.1585–
- zarda, n.1899–
- zardozi, n.1871–
- zarf | zurf, n.1836–
- zari, n.1969–
- zariba, n.1849–
- zariba, v.1885–
- zarnich, n.1612–
- Zarp, n.1895–
- zarzuela, n.1888–
- zat, n.1934–
- zatch, n.1950–
- zawiya, n.1836–
- zawn, n.1865–
- zayat, n.1823–
- zayde, n.1946–
- zazen, n.1727–
- zazzy, adj.1961–
Etymology
Summary
A borrowing from Arabic.
Etymon: Arabic zarnīkh.
< Arabic zarnīkh, < Persian zernī orpiment, < zer gold.
Meaning & use
- 1612–A name for the yellow and red sulfides of arsenic, usually called respectively orpiment and realgar.
- 1612
Your Lato, Azoch, Zernich, Chibrit, Heautarit.
B. Jonson, Alchemist ii. iii. sig. E2 - 1748
Bright red Zarnich, the Sandarach of Authors.
J. Hill, General Natural History vol. I. 406 - 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
- realgara1400–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…
- resalgarc1405–1610= realgar, n.
- 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…
- rosakerc1430–The mineral realgar (red arsenic).
- sandarac?1550–Red arsenic sulfide. = realgar, n.
- risagallum1565–1868Realgar (red arsenic, red orpiment).
- resegall1610–81= realgar, n.
- zarnich1612–A name for the yellow and red sulfides of arsenic, usually called respectively orpiment and realgar.
- ruby of ——1678–1874A red mineral containing the element specified; ruby of arsenic n. = realgar, n.
- red mundic1748= realgar, n.
- ruby sulfur1753–= realgar, n.
- ruby arsenic1776–= realgar, n.; cf. ruby of arsenic n. at ruby, n.¹ A.3b, ruby sulfur, n.
- arsenica1393–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…
- orpimentc1395–More fully yellow orpiment. Arsenic trisulfide, As2S3, a bright yellow mineral of the monoclinic system which occurs naturally as prismatic…
- auripigmenta1398–1736A bright yellow mineral, the trisulfide of arsenic (As2S3), used by painters under the name of King's Yellow. Cf. arsenic, n. 1a.
- orpine1548–1725The yellow mineral or pigment orpiment. Also figurative. Obsolete.
- golden earth1555–1909a. An earth containing gold; gold ore; b. the mineral yellow arsenic; = orpiment, n. 1.
- zarnich1612–A name for the yellow and red sulfides of arsenic, usually called respectively orpiment and realgar.
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
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.