jade¹ (jād)
n.

1. Either of two distinct minerals, nephrite and jadeite, that are generally pale green or white and are used mainly as gemstones or in carving.
2. A carving made of jade.
3. Jade green.

[French (le) jade, (the) jade, alteration of (l')ejade, from Spanish (piedra de) ijada, flank (stone) (from the belief that it cured renal colic), from Vulgar Latin *īliāta, from Latin īlia, pl. of īlium, flank.]

jade jade adj.

jade² (jād)

v., jad·ed, jad·ing, jades.

v.tr.
To wear out, as by overuse or overindulgence. See synonyms at tire¹.

v.intr.
To become weary or spiritless.

n.

1. A broken-down or useless horse; a nag.
2. A woman regarded as disreputable or shrewish.

[From Middle English iade, cart-horse, nag, akin to Swedish dialectal jälda, mare, possibly of Finno-Ugric origin.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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