Bal"as ru`by (?). [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.] Min.
A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red, or inclining to orange. See Spinel.
© Webster 1913.