Hypertext Webster Gateway: "topaz"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Topaz
Heb. pitdah (Ezek. 28:13; Rev. 21:20), a golden yellow or
"green" stone brought from Cush or Ethiopia (Job 28:19). It was
the second stone in the first row in the breastplate of the high
priest, and had the name of Simeon inscribed on it (Ex. 28:17).
It is probably the chrysolite of the moderns.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Topaz \To"paz\, n. [OE. topas, F. topaze, L. topazos, or
topazion, a kind of precious stone, Gr. to`pazos, topa`zion;
possibly akin to Skr. tap to glow (cf. {Tepid}). According to
some, the name is from Topazos, a small island in the Red
Sea, where the Romans obtained a stone which they called by
this name, but which is the chrysolite of the moderns.]
1. (Min.) A mineral occurring in rhombic prisms, generally
yellowish and pellucid, also colorless, and of greenesh,
bluish, or brownish shades. It sometimes occurs massive
and opaque. It is a fluosilicate of alumina, and is used
as a gem.
2. (Zo["o]l.)Either one of two species of large, brilliantly
colored humming birds of the {Topaza}, of South America
and the West Indies.
Note: The two tail feathers next to the central ones are much
longer that the rest, curved, and crossed. The Throat
is metallic yellowish-green, with a tint like topaz in
the center, the belly is bright crimson, the back
bright red. Called also {topaz hummer}.
{False topaz}. (Min.) See the Note under {Quartz}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
topaz
n 1: a yellow quartz [syn: {false topaz}, {common topaz}]
2: a mineral (fluosilicate of aluminum) that occurs in crystals
of various colors and is used as a gemstone
3: a light brown [syn: {tan}]
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