Gär'net, n.
n. [Fr. grenat, Pr. granat, Sp. granate, It. granato, L. Lat. granatus (sc. lapis), from Lat. granatum (sc. malum), pomegranate, from granatus, having many grains or seeds, from granum, grain, seed, so called from its resemblance in color and shape to the grains or seeds of the pomegranate.]
Sense 1. (Min.) A mineral, usually occurring in symmetrical, twelve-sided crystals (dodecahedrons), of a deep-red color. [Formerly written also granate.]
There are also green, yellow, brown, and black varieties. The garnet consists of silica, alumina, and lime, with more or less oxide of iron or manganese. When transparent, it is called precious garnet, and is used as a gem. Other varieties are, melanite, grossular, allocheite, colophonite, ouvarovite. The last-mentioned has an emerald green color. Garnet is a very common mineral in gneiss and mica-slate. It is the carbuncle of the ancients. Dana.
Sense 2. (Naut.) A sort of tackle fixed to the main-stay, and used to hoist in and out the cargo. Totten.