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Webster 1913 Edition

Chalcedony

Chal-ced′o-ny

(kăl-sĕd′ō̍-ny̆ or kăl′sē̍-dō̍-ny̆; 277)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Chalcedonies
(-nĭz)
.
[ L.
chalcedonius
, fr. Gr.
Χαλκηδών
Chalcedon, a town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzantium: cf.
calcédoine
, OE.
calcidoine
,
casidoyne
. Cf.
Cassidony
.]
(Min.)
A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax.
[Written also
calcedony
.]
☞ When chalcedony is variegated with with spots or figures, or arranged in differently colored layers, it is called
agate
; and if by reason of the thickness, color, and arrangement of the layers it is suitable for being carved into cameos, it is called
onyx
.
Chrysoprase
is green chalcedony;
carnelian
, a flesh red, and
sard
, a brownish red variety.

Webster 1828 Edition

Chalcedony

CHALCEDONY

,
Noun.
A subspecies of quartz, a mineral called also white agate, resembling milk diluted with water, and more or less clouded or opake, with veins, circles and spots. It is used in jewelry.
The varieties of chalcedony are common chalcedony, heliotrope, chrysoprase, plasma, onyx, sard and sardonyx.

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