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The metallic element "cobalt" ultimately draws its name from folklore. In Middle High German, "kobolt" denoted a usually helpful household elf that engaged in nasty pranks only when it was offended. Later, early Modern German Kobold came to refer to a variety of less helpful goblins inhabiting fields and mountains. The variant "Kobolt" in the 16th century was applied by German miners to ores containing the metal cobalt, which they considered to be worthless; they believed that mountain goblins had spoiled adjacent silver ores, or had stolen the silver within the ore. The metal itself in relatively pure form was not produced and described until the 17th century, when "cobalt," with its first letter influenced by New Latin cobaltum, became part of the international language of science.
Examples of cobalt in a Sentence
Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
The project aims to advance the U.S. presence in a region rich in cobalt, copper and other critical minerals used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies.
—Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Two years ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China owned 72% of cobalt and copper mines, according to the China Global South Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit that tracks Chinese efforts in Africa.
—Carlo Angerer, NBC News, 2 Dec. 2024
Beauty, lust, dirt, and money soaked in cobalt around me.
—Natasha Rao, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near cobalt
Cite this Entry
“Cobalt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cobalt. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
from German Kobalt "cobalt," an altered form of Kobold, literally, "goblin"; so called because its appearance in silver ore was thought to have been the work of goblins who left it in place of silver which they stole
Medical Definition
cobalt
noun
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