Category: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.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: see agate, n., 2. [eng.]

5. (zoöl.)

Defn: 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.

Ruby Ru"by, a.

Defn: ruby-colored; red; as, ruby lips.

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

Defn: to make red; to redden. [r.] Pope.

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---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Ruby - (Heb. peninim ), only in plural (Lamentations 4:7). The ruby was one of the stones in the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:17). A comparison is made between the value of wisdom and rubies (Job 28:18; Proverbs 3:15; Proverbs 8:11). The price of a virtuous woman is said to be "far above rubies" (Proverbs 31:10). The exact meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain. Some render it "red coral;" others, "pearl" or "mother-of-pearl."