zeilsteen

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch seilsteen. Equivalent to zeilen +‎ steen. Named after the use of magnets in compasses for navigation.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzɛi̯lsteːn/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: zeil‧steen

Noun

zeilsteen m (plural zeilstenen, diminutive zeilsteentje n)

1. magnetite, lodestone (Fe₃O₄)
2. lodestone, natural or magnet (clarification of this definition is needed)
3. (metonymically, obsolete) compass