balas

American  

[bal-uhs, bey-luhs] / ˈbæl əs, ˈbeɪ ləs /

noun

Mineralogy.

1. a rose-red variety of spinel.

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balas British  

/ ˈbeɪ-, ˈbæləs /

noun

1. Also called: balas ruby.  a red variety of spinel, used as a gemstone

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Etymology

Origin of balas

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

Example Sentences

“SOS,” it reads in black, as he writes, in red, “Las balas,” the bullets.

From New York Times

Mention has been made above of a stone frequently substituted for the true ruby, called the “spinel” or “balas” ruby.

From Project Gutenberg

The balas money which you now pay the pirates will be counted with your profits, for I will drive the pirates from these seas.

From Project Gutenberg

That may explain why, for centuries, the two were considered doppelgängers — in antiquity, spinel was known as balas ruby, derived from the word Badakhshan.

From New York Times

In 1382 a circlet crown was purchased for Queen Anne of Bohemia, being set with a large sapphire, a balas, and four large pearls with a diamond in the centre.

From Project Gutenberg