ballas

[ bal-uhs ]

noun(used with a singular verb)Mineralogy.
  1. a spherical aggregate of small diamond crystals used for drilling and for various industrial purposes.

Origin of ballas

1
Apparently variant of balas in phrase balas ruby spinel ruby, balas being taken to mean “spinel”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024