From Middle Dutchberil(“beryl”), from Latinberyllus(“beryl”), from Ancient Greekβήρυλλος(bḗrullos), from Prakrit, from Sanskritवैडूर्य(vaidurya, “a cat's eye gem; a jewel”), from Dravidian. Probably named after the city Velur (modern day Belur) in southern India. The first glasses, manufactured in Italy around 1300, were made of beryl. The meaning "toilet seat" is younger and derived from the similarity in shape. The word forms a doublet with beril(“beryl”).