From Spanish 'piedra de ijada' (flank stone) — conquistadors saw Americans using it as a kidney remedy.
A hard, typically green ornamental stone used for carvings and jewelry, comprising either of two minerals: nephrite or jadeite.
From French 'le jade,' an error for 'l'ejade,' from Spanish 'piedra de ijada' (stone of the flank/loin). Spanish conquistadors in Central America observed indigenous peoples holding the green stone against their sides as a cure for kidney and flank pain. They named it for this medicinal use. 'Ijada' comes from Latin 'īlia' (flanks, groin). Independently, the related word