Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Turquois
{
Tur-quoise′
,Tur-quois′
}(?; 277)
, Noun.
[F.
turquoise
; cf. Pr. & Sp. turquesa
, It. turchese
, turchina
, LL. turchesius
, turchina
; – so called because first brought from Turkey
. See 1st Turkey
.] (Min.)
A hydrous phosphate of alumina containing a little copper; calaite. It has a blue, or bluish green, color, and usually occurs in reniform masses with a botryoidal surface.
[Formerly written also
turcois
, and turkois
.] ☞ Turquoise is susceptible of a high polish, and when of a bright blue color is much esteemed as a gem. The finest specimens come from Persia. It is also found in New Mexico and Arizona, and is regarded as identical with the chalchihuitl of the Mexicans.