RUBIER

RUBY

Ru"by, n.; pl. Rubies. Etym: [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL. rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber. See Rouge, red.]

1. (Min.)

Definition: A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red. It is a red crystallized variety of corundum.

Note: Besides the true or Oriental ruby above defined, there are the balas ruby, or ruby spinel, a red variety of spinel, and the rock ruby, a red variety of garnet. Of rubies, sapphires, and pearles white. Chaucer.

2. The color of a ruby; carmine red; a red tint. The natural ruby of your cheeks. Shak.

3. That which has the color of the ruby, as red wine. Hence, a red blain or carbuncle.

4. (Print.)

Definition: See Agate, n., 2. [Eng.]

5. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any species of South American humming birds of the genus Clytolæma. The males have a ruby-colored throat or breast. Ruby of arsenic, Ruby of sulphur (Chem.), a glassy substance of a red color and a variable composition, but always consisting chiefly of the disulphide of arsenic; -- called also ruby sulphur.

– Ruby of zinc (Min.), zinc sulphide; the mineral zinc blende or sphalerite.

– Ruby silver (Min.), red silver. See under Red.

Ru"by, a.

Definition: Ruby-colored; red; as, ruby lips.

Ru"by, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rubied; p. pr. & vb. n. Rubying.]

Definition: To make red; to redden. [R.] Pope.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition