The forms from french replaced old english marma which had previously been borrowed from latin.
Marble origin of word.
From 1590s as resembling marble in some figurative quality cold hard insensible etc.
Much of the early classical marble came from the marmaris sea above the aegean.
Uncountable noun oft noun noun marble is a type of very hard rock which feels cold when you touch it and which shines when it is cut and polished.
Marble cake is attested from 1864.
Meaning mottled like marble is mid 15c.
Statues and parts of buildings are sometimes made of marble.
The earlier adjective in this sense was marbrin early 14c.
The word marble derives from the ancient greek μάρμαρον mármaron from μάρμαρος mármaros crystalline rock shining stone perhaps from the verb μαρμαίρω marmaírō to flash sparkle gleam.
A type of very hard rock that has a pattern of lines going through it feels cold and can be.