▪ I. prase Min.
(preɪz)
[a. F. prase, ad. L. prasius (Plin.) (formerly used in Eng.), a. Gr. πράσιος leek-green, f. πράσον leek.]
A cryptocrystalline or crystalline variety of translucent quartz, of a leek-green colour.
| α 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvi. lxxvi. (Bodl. MS.), Prassius is a grene stone as leke. 1601 Holland Pliny II. 619 As touching green stones..we reckon one of a Porret colour, which we cal Prasius. 1750 tr. Leonardus' Mirr. 218 Prassius, is so called from an Herb of its own Name. 1796 Kirwan Elem. Min. (ed. 2) I. 249 Prasium..seems to consist of a mixture of quartz, and shoerlaceous actinolite. |
| β 1788 tr. Cronstedt's Min. (ed. 2) I. 144 As to the prase, its name..shows it to be of a greenish-blue colour. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XII. 82 note, False emeralds, or prases. 1868 Dana Min. (ed. 5) 194 Quartz..Cryptocrystalline Varieties..4. Prase. Translucent and dull leek-green... Always regarded as a stone of little value. The name is also given to crystalline quartz of the same color. |
▪ II. prase
obs. form of praise.