From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Jasper \Jas"per\, n. [OE. jaspre, jaspe, OF. jaspre, jaspe, F.
jaspe, L. iaspis, Gr. ?; cf. Per. yashp, yashf, Ar. yashb,
yasb, yasf, Heb. y[=a]shpheh. Cf. {Diaper}.] (Min.)
An opaque, impure variety of quartz, of red, yellow, and
other dull colors, breaking with a smooth surface. It admits
of a high polish, and is used for vases, seals, snuff boxes,
etc. When the colors are in stripes or bands, it is called
{striped jasper} or {banded jasper}. The Egyptian pebble is a
brownish yellow jasper.
[1913 Webster]
{Jasper opal}, a yellow variety of opal resembling jasper.
{Jasper ware}, a delicate kind of earthenware invented by
Josiah Wedgwood. It is usually white, but is capable of
receiving color.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Wedgwood ware \Wedg"wood` ware`\ [From the name of the inventor,
Josiah Wedgwood, of England.]
A kind of fine pottery, the most remarkable being what is
called {jasper}, either white, or colored throughout the
body, and capable of being molded into the most delicate
forms, so that fine and minute bas-reliefs like cameos were
made of it, fit even for being set as jewels.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
jasper
n 1: an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark
green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
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