jasper

¹

[ jas-per ]

noun

1. a compact, opaque, cryptocrystalline variety of quartz, usually colored red: often used in decorative carvings.
2. Also called jasper ware;. a fine, hard stoneware introduced c1775 by Wedgwood, stained various colors by metallic oxides, with raised designs in white.

jasper

²

[ jas-per ]

noun

, Older Slang.

1. a fellow; guy.

Jasper

³

[ jas-per ]

noun

1. a city in NW Alabama.
2. a resort town in SW Alberta, in SW Canada, on the Athabasca River: headquarters for Jasper National Park.
3. a male given name, form of Caspar.

jasper

/ ˈdʒæspə /

noun

1. an opaque impure microcrystalline form of quartz, red, yellow, brown, or dark green in colour, used as a gemstone and for ornamental decoration
2. Also calledjasper ware a dense hard stoneware, invented in 1775 by Wedgwood, capable of being stained throughout its substance with metallic oxides and used as background for applied classical decoration

jasper

/ jăs′pər /

1. A reddish, brown, or yellow variety of chert. Jasper usually occurs in association with iron ores and contains iron impurities that give it its color.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jasper¹

1300–50; Middle English jaspe, jaspre < Middle French; Old French jaspe < Latin iaspis < Greek iáspis < Semitic; compare Arabic yashb

Origin of jasper²

1895–1900, Americanism; special use of proper name Jasper

Word History and Origins

Origin of jasper¹

C14: from Old French jaspe, from Latin jaspis, from Greek iaspis, of Semitic origin; related to Assyrian ashpū, Arabic yashb, Hebrew yāshpheh

Example Sentences

We currently have a “Whitney” cheese on the menu, crafted at Jasper Hills Creamery in Vermont.

From Salon

Makazole Mapimpi scored two first-half tries for the Springboks, with Thomas du Toit adding a third and Jasper Wiese a late fourth.

From BBC

Alpecin–Deceuninck's Jasper Philipsen finished second and Arnaud de Lie third for Lotto–Dstny.

From BBC

Jasper, 28, from upstate New York, has sought help from the group for everything from picking a Halloween-themed display name on Discord to a particular flavor of prescription cat food.

From Slate

He appreciates it as a source of connection as much as advice, going out of his way to vote on others’ dilemmas and “perhaps make a difference to someone’s life,” Jasper says.

From Slate