balas

(bal′əs, bāl′-)

noun

a pink or orange type of ruby spinel, a semiprecious stone

Origin: ME baleis < OFr balais < ML balascius < Ar balakhsh, after Pers Badaḫšān, name of province in Afghanistan where the gem occurs

See balas in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A rose-red to orange spinel used as a semiprecious gem, once confused with the ruby.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French balais

Origin: and from Old Spanish balax

Origin: ; both akin to Medieval Latin balascus

Origin: , from Arabic balaḫš

Origin: , from Persian Badakhshān, a region of northeast Afghanistan

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