bort

or boart, bortz

[ bawrt ]

noun

1. low-quality diamond, in granular aggregate or small fragments, valuable only in crushed or powdered form, especially for industrial use as an abrasive.

bort

/ bɔːt; bɔːts /

noun

1. an inferior grade of diamond used for cutting and drilling or, in powdered form, as an industrial abrasive

Derived Forms

• ˈborty, adjective

Other Words From

• borty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bort¹

1615–25; apparently metathetic variant of *brot ( Old English gebrot fragment); akin to Middle English brotel brittle, Old Norse brot fragment

Word History and Origins

Origin of bort¹

Old English gebrot fragment; related to Old Norse brot piece, Old High German broz bud

Example Sentences

Sylmar 63, Dorsey 55: In season No. 30 at Sylmar for coach Bort Escoto, the Spartans received 23 points from Gabe Sidon and 15 points from Joe Dickson.

From Los Angeles Times

When a rare blizzard struck the area this year, Ms. Carleton and her husband, Bort Carleton, converted her shop into a relief center.

From Salon

"We are all devastated for her husband Bort and her family and the LGBTQ+ community, for whom Lauri was such a true ally," Feig said.

From Salon

“We are all devastated for her husband, Bort, and her family and the LGBTQ+ community, for whom Lauri was such a true ally.”

From Washington Times

“When my father said daay bort, pronouncing the word ‘deport’ by breaking it into syllables that creaked like a door opening and shutting,” she writes, “I felt its decree.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• gem
• jewel
• rhinestone