oriental amethyst

2 definitions found

oriental amethyst - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Amethyst \Am"e*thyst\, [F. ametiste, amatiste, F. am['e]thyste,
     L. amethystus, fr. Gr. ? without drunkenness; as a noun, a
     remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this
     power; 'a priv. + ? to be drunken, ? strong drink, wine. See
     Mead.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or
        bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used
        as a jeweler's stone.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Oriental amethyst, the violet-blue variety of transparent
        crystallized corundum or sapphire.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat
        of arms.
        [1913 Webster]

  Corundum \Co*run"dum\ (k[-o]*r[u^]n"d[u^]m), n.; pl. Corundums
     (k[-o]*r[u^]n"d[u^]mz). [Also corindon.] [From Hind. kurand
     corundum stone.] (Min.)
     The mineral alumina (Al2O3), as found native in a
     crystalline state. Transparent varieties are used as
     gemstones, including sapphire, which is the fine blue
     variety; the oriental ruby, or red sapphire; the oriental amethyst
     , or purple sapphire; and adamantine spar, the
     hair-brown variety. It is the hardest substance found native,
     next to the diamond.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     Note: The name corundum is sometimes restricted to the
           non-transparent or coarser kinds. Emery is a
           dark-colored granular variety, usually admixed with
           magnetic iron ore.
           [1913 Webster]