Ŏ'nyx, n.

noun

n. [Lat. onyx, Gr. ὄνυξ, Fr. onyx, Pr. & Pg. onix, Sp. onix, oniz, oñice, onique, It. onice. See ONYCHA.] (Min.) Chalcedony consisting of parallel layers of different shades of color, and used for making cameos, the figure being cut in one layer upon the next as a basis or ground. Dana.