Diamond \Di"a*mond\ (?; 277), n. [OE. diamaund, diamaunt, F.
diamant, corrupted, fr. L. adamas, the hardest iron, steel,
diamond, Gr. ?. Perh. the corruption is due to the influence
of Gr. ? transparent. See Adamant, Tame.]
1. A precious stone or gem excelling in brilliancy and
beautiful play of prismatic colors, and remarkable for
extreme hardness.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The diamond is native carbon in isometric crystals,
often octahedrons with rounded edges. It is usually
colorless, but some are yellow, green, blue, and even
black. It is the hardest substance known. The diamond
as found in nature (called a rough diamond) is cut, for
use in jewelry, into various forms with many reflecting
faces, or facets, by which its brilliancy is much
increased. See Brilliant, Rose. Diamonds are said
to be of the first water when very transparent, and of
the second or third water as the transparency
decreases.
[1913 Webster]
2. A geometrical figure, consisting of four equal straight
lines, and having two of the interior angles acute and two
obtuse; a rhombus; a lozenge.
[1913 Webster]
3. One of a suit of playing cards, stamped with the figure of
a diamond.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Arch.) A pointed projection, like a four-sided pyramid,
used for ornament in lines or groups.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Baseball) The infield; the square space, 90 feet on a
side, having the bases at its angles.
[1913 Webster]
6. (Print.) The smallest kind of type in English printing,
except that called brilliant, which is seldom seen.
[1913 Webster]
Black diamond, coal; (Min.) See Carbonado.
Bristol diamond. See Bristol stone, under Bristol.
Diamond beetle (Zool.), a large South American weevil
(Entimus imperialis), remarkable for its splendid luster
and colors, due to minute brilliant scales.
Diamond bird (Zool.), a small Australian bird (Pardalotus
punctatus, family Ampelid[ae].). It is black, with
white spots.
Diamond drill (Engin.), a rod or tube the end of which is
set with black diamonds; -- used for perforating hard
substances, esp. for boring in rock.
Diamond finch (Zool.), a small Australian sparrow, often
kept in a cage. Its sides are black, with conspicuous
white spots, and the rump is bright carmine.
Diamond groove (Iron Working), a groove of V-section in a
roll.
Diamond mortar (Chem.), a small steel mortar used for
pulverizing hard substances.
Diamond-point tool, a cutting tool whose point is
diamond-shaped.
Diamond snake (Zool.), a harmless snake of Australia
(Morelia spilotes); the carpet snake.
Glazier's diamond, a small diamond set in a glazier's tool,
for cutting glass.
[1913 Webster]
|