sapp

n. [ F. sappare; -- so called by Saussure. ] (Min.) Kyanite. [ Written also sappar. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. sapeur. ] One who saps; specifically (Mil.), one who is employed in working at saps, building and repairing fortifications, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Sapphicus, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; Sappho. ] 1. Of or pertaining to Sappho, the Grecian poetess; as, Sapphic odes; Sapphic verse. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Pros.) Belonging to, or in the manner of, Sappho; -- said of a certain kind of verse reputed to have been invented by Sappho, consisting of five feet, of which the first, fourth, and fifth are trochees, the second is a spondee, and the third a dactyl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Pros.) A Sapphic verse. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or resembling sapphire; sapphirine; blue. “The sapphire blaze.” Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. saphir, F. saphir, L. sapphirus, Gr. &unr_;, of Oriental origin; cf. Heb. sappīr. ] 1. (Min.) Native alumina or aluminium sesquioxide, Al2O3; corundum; esp., the blue transparent variety of corundum, highly prized as a gem. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of rubies, sapphires, and of pearlés white. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Sapphire occurs in hexagonal crystals and also in granular and massive forms. The name sapphire is usually restricted to the blue crystals, while the bright red crystals are called Oriental rubies (see under Ruby), the amethystine variety Oriental amethyst (see under Amethyst), and the dull massive varieties corundum (a name which is also used as a general term to include all varieties). See Corundum. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The color of the gem; bright blue. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Any humming bird of the genus Hylocharis, native of South America. The throat and breast are usually bright blue. [ 1913 Webster ]

Star sapphire, or
Asteriated sapphire (Min.), a kind of sapphire which exhibits asterism. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Resembling sapphire; made of sapphire; having the color, or any quality of sapphire. “Sapphirine degree of hardness.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Sapphic. ] (Zool.) Any one of several species of brilliant South American humming birds of the genus Sappho, having very bright-colored and deeply forked tails; -- called also firetail. [ 1913 Webster ]