Etymology
The word "carat" derives from the Late Latin word "carratus," which itself is derived from the Arabic word "qīrāt" (قيراط). The Arabic word "qīrāt" originally referred to a small seed, known as the carat seed, used by ancient Arabian merchants to weigh precious stones and metals.
Meaning
A carat is a unit of mass used to measure the weight of precious stones, particularly diamonds. It is defined as 0.2 grams, or 200 milligrams.
Origin
The use of the carat as a unit of measurement can be traced back to ancient civilizations. In the 5th century BC, the ancient Greeks used a small bean known as the "keration" to weigh gold and silver. The keration was approximately the same weight as the modern carat.
The use of the carat as a unit of measure for precious stones became widespread during the Middle Ages. Arabian merchants introduced the carat to European jewellers, who began using it to assess the weight and value of diamonds and other gemstones.
Over time, the carat became the internationally accepted standard for measuring the weight of precious stones. It was officially adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1971.
Other Uses
In addition to its use in measuring the weight of precious stones, the carat is also used in other fields:
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