ŏnyx, ychis, m. and f., = ὄνυξ (a fingernail; hence, from its color).
I Fem. , a kind of yellowish marble , onyx , of which vessels of many kinds were made; it was also used for mlaying floors, Plin. 36, 7, 12, § 59: totāque effusus in aulā Calcabatur onyx, Luc. 10, 116; calcatusque tuo sub pede lucet onyx, Mart. 12, 50, 4.—
B Masc. , a vessel of onyx , an onyx-box : nardi parvus onyx, Hor. C. 4, 12, 17; murrheus, an ointment-box , Prop. 3, 8 (4, 9), 22; cf.: Syrio munere plenus onyx, id. 2, 10 (3, 5), 14.— In this signif. also as fem. : unguentum fuerat, quod onyx modo parva gerebat, Mart. 7, 94, 1.—
II A yellowish precious stone , an onyx , Plin. 37, 6, 24, § 90—
III The female of a mussel of the scallop species , Plin. 32, 9, 32, § 103.