Hypertext Webster Gateway: "amethyst"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Amethyst
one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest
(Ex. 28:19; 39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem
(Rev. 21:20). The ancients thought that this stone had the power
of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it, and
hence its Greek name formed from _a_, "privative," and _methuo_,
"to get drunk." Its Jewish name, _ahlamah'_, was derived by the
rabbins from the Hebrew word _halam_, "to dream," from its
supposed power of causing the wearer to dream.
It is a pale-blue crystallized quartz, varying to a dark
purple blue. It is found in Persia and India, also in different
parts of Europe.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Amethyst \Am"e*thyst\, [F. ametiste, amatiste, F. am['e]thyste,
L. amethystus, fr. Gr. ? without drunkenness; as a noun, a
remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this
power; 'a priv. + ? to be drunken, ? strong drink, wine. See
{Mead}.]
1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or
bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used
as a jeweler's stone.
{Oriental amethyst}, the violet-blue variety of transparent
crystallized corundum or sapphire.
2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat
of arms.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
amethyst
adj : of a moderate purple color
n : a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone
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