chatoyant

[ shuh-toi-uhnt ]

adjective

1. changing in luster or color:

   chatoyant silk.

2. Jewelry. reflecting a single streak of light when cut in a cabochon.

noun

1. Jewelry. a cabochon-cut gemstone having this reflected streak, as a chrysoberyl cat's eye.

chatoyant

/ ʃəˈtɔɪənt /

adjective

1. having changeable lustre; twinkling
2. (of a gem, esp a cabochon) displaying a band of light reflected off inclusions of other minerals

noun

1. a gemstone with a changeable lustre, such as a cat's eye

Derived Forms

• chaˈtoyancy, noun

Other Words From

• cha·toyance cha·toyan·cy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chatoyant¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; from French, present participle of chatoyer “to change luster like a cat's eye,” derivative of chat “cat”; cat ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of chatoyant¹

C18: from French, from chatoyer to gleam like a cat's eyes, from chat cat ¹

Example Sentences

The chatoyant eyes of the leopard stared back, a flicker of restlessness in their brilliant yellow deeps.

From Project Gutenberg

Cymophane, or chatoyant chrysoberyl, may also be asteriated.

From Project Gutenberg

She invariably wore gloves out of doors and a veil to conceal the chatoyant eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a river there too; not a little bolt of chatoyant silk like the Avon, which they would have called a "crick" back there.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bright
• gleaming
• glistening
• lustrous
• polished
• silky
• sleek
• slick