Topaz

Forms: 3 tupace, 3–7 topace, 4–6 topias, 5 thopas, topeus, tapace, (topyes), 5–7 topas, topaze, topase, 6– topaz. β. 4 topasie; (topazius), 7 topasius. [ME. a. OF. topaze, topace, -ase (Roland, 11th c.), mod.F. topaze = Prov. topazi, Sp. topacio, Pg. topazio, It. topazio, ad. L. topazus (also later topazius, -ion), a. Gr. τόπαζος, ιον, a foreign word; according to Pliny named from an island in the Red or Arabian Sea, where it abounded; but thought by some to be connected with Skr. tapas heat, fire.]

  1.  The name given (with or without distinguishing adjunct) to several highly valued precious stones. a. According to King, Antique Gems, 26, given by the Greeks and Romans to the yellow or oriental topaz, a yellow sapphire or corundum; by Pliny, also to the modern chrysolite. b. In modern use (true or occidental topaz), a fluo-silicate of aluminium, usually in prismatic crystals, transparent and lustrous, yellow, white, pale blue, or pale green, found in Brazil, Mexico, Saxony, Scotland, the Ural Mountains, etc.

  Also with distinctive adjuncts: False topaz, a transparent pale yellow variety of quartz; Pink t., pink or rose-colored topaz, artificially produced from the yellow Brazilian stone by exposure to strong heat; Scottish or smoky t., the smoky variety found in Scotland; Siberian t., a bluish white variety; Spanish t., a golden brown variety of smoky quartz; Star-topaz, a yellow asteriated sapphire.

a. 1272.  Luue Ron, 172, in O. E. Misc., 98. Hwat spekstu of eny stone … Of Amatiste, of calcydone, of lectorie, and tupace?

a. 1300.  Floriz & Bl., 287. And suþþe riche cassidoines And Jacinctes and topaces.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, vi. (Thomas), 279. With brycht & schenand preciuse stanys, As sardiane, topias fyne, Iaspis.

1382.  Wyclif, Job xxviii. 19. Topasie of Ethiope.

c. 1400.  Emaré, 91. Of topaze and rubyes, And oþur stones of myche prys.

c. 1407.  Lydg., Reson & Sens., 6719. Hyr Rokys … Wer makyd of a ryche stoon, Of a Thopas.

c. 1420.  Anturs of Arth., xxviii. The tassellus were of topeus, that was ther-to tiȝte.

a. 1440.  Sir Degrev., 635. With topyes and trechoure Overtrasyd that tyde.

1481.  Caxton, Myrr., II. vii. 79. A stone called Topace which is of colour lyke vnto fyn golde.

1567.  Maplet, Gr. Forest, 22. The Topaze … Plinie sayth, is a Gem of grassie colour: although that in Germanie it is found like to Golde.

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XIII. vi. (1886), 239. A topase healeth the lunaticke person of his passion of lunacie.

1645.  Evelyn, Diary, 21 May. Many pearls, diamonds, amethysts, topazes.

1738.  Glover, Leonidas, IV. 266. The flaming topaz with its golden beam.

1888.  Encycl. Brit., XXIII. 446. The topaz of modern mineralogists was unknown to the ancients.

  2.  Her. In blazoning by precious stones, the designation of the tincture Or.

1562.  Leigh, Armorie, 4 b. That precious stone, which y^e Herhaughts do vse in blason, for, and in y^e name of this metall [or] and Planett [the sun] that is called a Topace.

1572.  Bossewell, Armorie, II. 56. The field is parted per fesse embattyled, Topaze and Emeraude, two Lyciskes passant conterchanged of the fielde.

1766–87.  Porny, Heraldry, Gloss., Topaz, the name of a precious Stone used instead of Or, in blazoning the Arms of the English Nobility only.

  3.  attrib. and Comb., as topaz-color, -fire, -gleam, -seal, -stone; topaz-colored, -tailed, -throated, -tinted adjs.; also topaz humming-bird, two S. American species of humming-bird of brilliant colors, Topaza pella and T. pyra; topaz-pycnite Min., a variety of topaz, occurring in columnar aggregations; topaz-rock: see quot. 1796.

1902.  Westm. Gaz., 2 Aug., 2/1. The yellow cat lay motionless and supine, its *topaz-coloured eyes rolling from one to the other.

1816.  J. Scott, Vis. Paris, App. (ed. 5), 321. An infinity of glass lamps … sparkling with green, crimson, and *topaz fires.

1782.  Latham, Synopsis Birds, I. II. 746. *Topaz Humming-Bird. This bird is not much inferior to a Wren in size.

1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, 1243. The rare mineral called *topaz pycnite is found in this mine.

1796.  Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 368. *Topaz rock … presents a compound of topaz, quartz, shorl, and lithomarga, confusedly compacted together.

1812.  Scott, Lett. to J. B. S. Morritt, 10 Dec., in Lockhart. A pretty *topaz seal, with a talisman which secures this letter.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VII. 77. Off *topastone him thocht the plumat was.

1595.  Locrine, II. i. 24. Enthronized in seates of Topace stones.

1811.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VIII. 335. *Topaz-tailed Humming-bird…. Length four inches: Native of Paraguay. Ibid., 274. *Topaz-throated Humming-bird…. The throat … is of the most splendid *topaz yellow.

1867.  Aug. J. E. Wilson, Vashti, xiv. The glassy stretch of *topaz-tinted sea.

1845.  Lindley, Veg. Kingd. (1846), 114. Barley-straw melts into a glass of a topaz yellow colour.

  Hence Topazy a. (nonce-wd.) [see -Y], like topaz.

1892.  Stevenson, Vailima Lett., xxii. (1895), 224. The colour … is a topazy yellow.