JASPER

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 28 June 2011

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JASPER  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) a variety of quartz, often used as a gemstone or as a decorative material

Useful information for game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S, -Y
• Anagrams: JAPERS
• Longer extensions: -WARE, -WARES
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: JASPERWARE (n. pl. -S) and JASPILITE (n. pl. -S)

Epilogue:
JASPER comes in a variety of colors, but a type known as BLOODSTONE — usually green with flecks of vivid red spots — is one of the traditional birthstones for March and was once variously believed to render the wearer invisible or to stanch the flow of blood.  English took the word from the Old French jaspre, but it can be traced back to ancient Hebrew and Persian forms.

This week’s theme: Words starting with the letter J

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