Sapphire \Sap"phire\ (? or ?; 277), n. [OE. saphir, F. saphir,
L. sapphirus, Gr. ?, of Oriental origin; cf. Heb. sapp[=i]r.]
1. (Min.) Native alumina or aluminium sesquioxide, Al2O3;
corundum; esp., the blue transparent variety of corundum,
highly prized as a gem.
Of rubies, sapphires, and of pearl['e]s white.
--Chaucer.
Note: Sapphire occurs in hexagonal crystals and also in
granular and massive forms. The name sapphire is
usually restricted to the blue crystals, while the
bright red crystals are called Oriental rubies (see
under Ruby), the amethystine variety Oriental
amethyst (see under Amethyst), and the dull massive
varieties corundum (a name which is also used as a
general term to include all varieties). See Corundum.
2. The color of the gem; bright blue.
3. (Zo["o]l.) Any humming bird of the genus Hylocharis,
native of South America. The throat and breast are usually
bright blue.
Star sapphire, or Asteriated sapphire (Min.), a kind of
sapphire which exhibits asterism.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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