Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. The name comes from the Koine Greek ἀμέθυστος "amethystos" from ἀ- "a-", "not" and μεθύσκω "methysko" / μεθύω "methyo", "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. The ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. Amethyst is a semiprecious stone often used in jewelry and is the traditional birthstone for February. Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO) and owes its violet color to irradiation, iron impurities (in some cases in conjunction with transition
HMS Amethyst (1799) of York to the Netherlands and later participated in the evacuation of the force following the campaign's collapse. On 18 December she and recaptured the brig "Jenny". Eleven days after that, "Amethyst" and "Beaulieu" recaptured the ships "Dauphin", "Cato", "Cabrus", and "Nymphe". On 29 December "Amethyst" captured the French privateer brig "Aventurier" (or "Avanture"). "Aventurier", out of Lorient, was armed with 14 guns and had a crew of 75 men. One month earlier, on 29 November, "Aventurier" had captured the American ship "Cato" and taken her master, John Parker, and his crew prisoner. When "Amethyst" captured "Aventurier" Cooke freed the