quartz crystaln.
/ˈkwɔːts ˌkrɪstl/, U.S. /ˈkwɔrts ˌkrɪstl/ Quartz in crystalline form, rock crystal; a piece or single crystal of this, (later esp.) one used in a clock or other device.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > tectosilicate > [noun] > quartz > crystalline quartzes > rock crystal
crystalOE
irisa1387
crystalline1539
rainbow-stone1587
Cornish diamond1591
diamond1591
mountain crystal1598
rock crystal1598
pebble1688
Cornish stone1695
Welsh diamond1705
rainbow crystal1748
quartz crystal1770
Irish diamond1774
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > tectosilicate > [noun] > quartz > crystalline quartzes > rock crystal > piece of
crystal stonea1387
irisa1387
crystala1393
rock crystal1660
quartz crystal1770
1770 G. von Engeström & E. M. da Costa tr. A. F. Cronstedt Ess. Syst. Mineral. 55 It is usual to burn that gem [sc. the topaz] on purpose that it may be made use of instead of the diamond, as it is harder than the quartz crystal [Sw. Qwartz Crystaller].
1802 J. Playfair Illustr. Huttonian Theory 326 Granites containing quartz-crystals.
1859 Harper's Mag. Jan. 186/1 The declivity of black limestone slate, sparkling with quartz crystals and crowned by the citadel.
1889 G. M. Hopkins Exper. Sci. xii. 260 If a plate of quartz crystal, a Brazilian pebble spectacle lens for example, be placed between the tourmalines arranged in this way, the light will again pass, showing that it has been depolarized by the rock crystal.
1933 K. Henney Radio Engin. Handbk. vii. 167 Piezo-electric quartz crystals provide standards of frequency, when permanently connected into suitable vacuum-tube circuits and allowed to oscillate continuously.
1951 W. E. Pannett Radio Installations vii. 177 The quartz crystal..has largely superseded valve circuits as a master oscillator for controlling the frequency of a transmitter.
1985 C. S. Ward Anaesthetic Equipm. (ed. 2) xiv. 265/2 The Engström Emma anaesthetic vapour analyser incorporates a transducer head in which there are two quartz crystals, both of which are exposed to the sample of vapour to be measured.
2000 R. Sterling World Food: Vietnam 40 Duong Phen (Rock Sugar). Also called ‘rock candy’ or ‘yellow rock sugar’ for its close resemblance to a rocky piece of quartz crystal.
Compounds
attributive. Designating a clock or other device that uses a quartz crystal, esp. for frequency control; designating an object made from rock crystal.
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1940 Observatory 63 113 The free pendulums..have set a standard of precision in time-keeping which, otherwise, has only been attained in recent years by the quartz crystal oscillator.
1959 R. H. Baker Astron. (ed. 7) iii. 77 In the quartz-crystal clock now in use in observatories, a quartz crystal controls the frequency of an electronic oscillator, imposing its natural frequency of vibration on the current.
1977 T. Allbeury Man with President's Mind vii. 66 It was a small quartz-crystal watch.
2001 San Francisco Chron. (Nexis) Mar. 21 Plummet-shaped, quartz crystal charm stones.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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