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ballas

American  
[bal-uhs] / ˈbæl əs /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

  1. a spherical aggregate of small diamond crystals used for drilling and for various industrial purposes.

Etymology

Origin of ballas

Apparently variant of balas in phrase balas ruby spinel ruby, balas being taken to mean “spinel”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After many compliments, the viceroy stated, that a merchant had arrived at Goa with a very fine ballas ruby, weighing 350 rotties, of which the pattern was sent.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 08 by Kerr, Robert

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.