1. A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red, or inclining to orange. See Spinel.
Origin: OE. Bales, balais, F. Balais, LL. Balascus, fr. Ar. Balakhsh, so called from Badakhshan, Balashan, or Balaxiam, a place in the neighborhood of Samarcand, where this ruby is found.
Source: Websters Dictionary
(01 Mar 1998)
