catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  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]
  
     Note: [hand] This line is printed in the type called
           Diamond.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Black diamond, coal; (Min.) See Carbonado.
  
     Bristol diamond. See Bristol stone, under Bristol.
  
     Diamond beetle (Zo["o]l.), a large South American weevil
        ({Entimus imperialis), remarkable for its splendid luster
        and colors, due to minute brilliant scales.
  
     Diamond bird (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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]

  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.
  
     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.
  
     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.
  
     3. One of a suit of playing cards, stamped with the figure of
        a diamond.
  
     4. (Arch.) A pointed projection, like a four-sided pyramid,
        used for ornament in lines or groups.
  
     5. (Baseball) The infield; the square space, 90 feet on a
        side, having the bases at its angles.
  
     6. (Print.) The smallest kind of type in English printing,
        except that called brilliant, which is seldom seen.
  
     Note: [hand] This line is printed in the type called
           Diamond.
  
     Black diamond, coal; (Min.) See Carbonado.
  
     Bristol diamond. See Bristol stone, under Bristol.
  
     Diamond beetle (Zo["o]l.), a large South American weevil
        ({Entimus imperialis), remarkable for its splendid luster
        and colors, due to minute brilliant scales.
  
     Diamond bird (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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.