eaglestone means A concretionary nodule of iron oxide with a loose kernel inside such that it makes a rattling noise, formerly used for magical or medicinal purposes. It carries an Arena rating of 1601, earned across 58 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, eaglestone ranks #299 of 17,140 for Most Whimsical Words, #358 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #364 of 17,149 for Most Exacting Words, #399 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words.
eaglestone is pronounced /ˈiːɡl̩stəʊn/.
Why “eaglestone” is a great word
EAGLESTONE — [Noun] A concretionary nodule of iron oxide with a loose kernel that rattles, historically believed to possess magical or medicinal properties. From the English words 'eagle' (the bird of prey) and 'stone', so called because it was traditionally said to be found in eagles' nests. Unlike a "geode" (a hollow rock lined with crystals, prized for its aesthetic and geological interest) or a "lodestone" (a naturally magnetized mineral used for navigation), an eaglestone is a solid, non-magnetic curiosity whose power resided in human belief. It is the weight of a rust-colored pebble in the palm, the faint, dry rattle of its captive core like a fossilized whisper, and the imagined spectacle of a raptor bearing it aloft—a testament to the profound need to find wonder and agency in the inert heart of a stone.
Etymology
From eagle + stone, because it was said to be found in eagles' nests.
noun
- A concretionary nodule of iron oxide with a loose kernel inside such that it makes a rattling noise, formerly used for magical or medicinal purposes.e.g.“There was the eagle-stone (aetites) which the Countess of Newcastle was invited to wear in 1633 to ease her labour pains […].” — 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 183:
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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