Hypertext Webster Gateway: "onyx"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Onyx
a hail; claw; hoof, (Heb. shoham), a precious stone adorning the
breast-plate of the high priest and the shoulders of the ephod
(Ex. 28:9-12, 20; 35:27; Job 28:16; Ezek. 28:13). It was found
in the land of Havilah (Gen. 2:12). The LXX. translates the
Hebrew word by smaragdos, an emerald. Some think that the
sardonyx is meant. But the onyx differs from the sardonyx in
this, that while the latter has two layers (black and white) the
former has three (black, white, and red).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Onyx \O"nyx\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ? a claw, finger nail, a veined
gem. See {Nail}, and cf. {Onycha}.] (Min.)
Chalcedony in parallel layers of different shades of color.
It is used for making cameos, the figure being cut in one
layer with the next as a ground.
{Onyx marble}, a banded variety of marble or calcium
carbonate resembling onyx. It is obtained from Mexico.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Chalcedony \Chal*ced"o*ny\ (k[a^]l*s[e^]d"[-o]*n[y^] or
k[a^]l"s[-e]*d[-o]*n[y^]; 277), n.; pl. {Chalcedonies}
(-n[i^]z). [ L. chalcedonius, fr. Gr. CHalkhdw`n Chalcedon, a
town in Asia Minor, opposite to Byzantium: cf. calc['e]doine,
OE. calcidoine, casidoyne. Cf. {Cassidony}.] (Min.)
A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having
usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax.
[Written also {calcedony}.]
Note: When chalcedony is variegated with with spots or
figures, or arranged in differently colored layers, it
is called {agate}; and if by reason of the thickness,
color, and arrangement of the layers it is suitable for
being carved into cameos, it is called {onyx}.
{Chrysoprase} is green chalcedony; {carnelian}, a flesh
red, and {sard}, a brownish red variety.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
onyx
n : a chalcedony with alternating black and white bands; used in
making cameos
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.