agate 的词源

在《埃涅阿斯纪》中，阿基琉斯的盔甲手和忠实朋友的名字。短语 fidus Achates 成为了“忠诚的朋友，忠实而 devoted 的伙伴”的代名词。这个名字源自希腊语 akhatēs，意为“玛瑙”（参见 agate）。

这种玩具弹珠，到了1905年，在美式英语中，通常是对agate（参见该词条）的口语缩写。

Excited groups gather about rude circles scratched in the mud, and there is talk of "pureys," and "reals," and "aggies," and "commies," and "fen dubs!" There is a rich click about the bulging pockets of the boys, and every so often in school time something drops on the floor and rolls noisily across the room. When Miss Daniels asks: "Who did that?" the boys all look so astonished. Who did what pray tell? [McClure's magazine, May 1905]

兴奋的人们围着泥土上划出的粗糙圆圈，有人谈论着“pureys”、“reals”、“aggies”和“commies”，还有“fen dubs！”男孩们鼓鼓的口袋发出悦耳的声音，时不时在上课时会有东西掉落在地上，滚动着发出响亮的声音。当丹尼尔小姐问：“谁干的？”时，男孩们都显得非常惊讶。究竟是谁干的呢？[《麦克卢尔杂志》，1905年5月]