balas-ruby

See also: balas ruby

English

Noun

balas-ruby (plural balas-rubies)

1. A rose-coloured spinel once thought to be a type of ruby.
   • 1888, Rudyard Kipling, “The Bisara of Pooree”, in Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio Society, published 2005, page 171:

     In shape it is a tiny square box of silver, studded outside with eight small balas-rubies.

   • 1890, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Vintage, published 2007, page 120:

     Richard II had a coat, valued at thirty thousand marks, which was covered with balas rubies.

Translations

variety of ruby

• French: rubis balais m
• German: Balas-Rubin m
• Italian: balascio m
• Latin: balascus m (medieval)
• Persian: بدخش (badaxš)
• Spanish: balaje (es), balaj (es)