balas

[ bal-uhs, bey-luhs ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Mineralogy.

a rose-red variety of spinel.

balas

/ ˈbeɪ-; ˈbæləs /

noun

a red variety of spinel, used as a gemstone Also calledbalas ruby

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Word History and Origins

Origin of balas¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin balasius, variant of balascius < Arabic balakhsh, back formation from Persian Badakhshān, district near Samarkand, where gem is found

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Word History and Origins

Origin of balas¹

C15: from Old French balais , from Arabic bālakhsh , from Badhakhshān , region in Afghanistan where the gem is found

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