jasper

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an opaque, impure variety of chalcedony occurring in red, yellow, brown, green, and other colors and used as a gemstone or ornamental stone

   The seal was cut from red jasper veined with black.

2. 2
   noun

   a dense colored stoneware body, especially the material used in Wedgwood jasperware

   The pale blue jasper was decorated with white classical figures.

Through Middle English jaspre and Old French jaspe from Latin iaspis and Greek iaspis, a word for a spotted or colored precious stone ultimately borrowed from a Semitic language. Ancient and medieval jasper names covered a wider range of stones than the modern mineral term.

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