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Webster 1913 Edition

Ruby

Ru′by

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Rubies
(#)
.
[F.
rubis
(cf. Pr.
robi
), LL.
rubinus
,
robinus
, fr. L.
rubeus
red, reddish, akin to
ruber
. See
Rouge
,
red
.]
1.
(Min.)
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.
☞ 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.
Shakespeare
3.
That which has the color of the ruby, as red wine. Hence, a red blain or carbuncle.
4.
(Print.)
See
Agate
,
Noun.
, 2.
[Eng.]
5.
(Zool.)
Any species of South American humming birds of the genus
Clytolaema
. 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

,
Adj.
Ruby-colored; red;
as,
ruby
lips
.

Ru′by

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Rubied
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Rubying
.]
To make red; to redden.
[R.]
Pope.

Webster 1828 Edition

Ruby

RU'BY

,
Noun.
[L. rubeo, to be red.]
1.
A precious stone; a mineral of a carmine red color, sometimes verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and hyacinth red; but its parts vary in color, and hence it is called sapphire ruby or orange red, and by some vermeille or rubicel.
There are two kinds of ruby, the oriental or corundum, and the spinelle. The latter is distinguishable from the former by its color and crystallization.
The ruby is next in hardness and value to the diamond, and highly esteemed in jewelry.
2.
Redness; red color.
3.
Any thing red.
4.
A blain; a blotch; a carbuncle. [The ruby is said to be the stone called by Pliny a carbuncle.]
Ruby of arsenic or sulphur, is the realgar, or red combination of arsenic and sulphur.
Ruby of zink, is the red blend.
Rock ruby, the amethystizontes of the ancients, is the most value species of garnet.

RU'BY

,
Verb.
T.
To make red.

RU'BY

,
Adj.
Of the color of the ruby; red; as ruby lips.

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