lapis lazuli

noun

1. a deep-blue mineral composed mainly of lazurite with smaller quantities of other minerals, used mainly as a gem or as a pigment.
2. a sky-blue color; azure.

noun

1. a brilliant blue variety of the mineral lazurite, used as a gemstone
2. the deep blue colour of lapis lazuli

n.early 15c., from Middle Latin lapis lazuli, literally “stone of azure,” from Latin lapis “stone” + Medieval Latin lazuli, genitive of lazulum, from Arabic lazuward (see azure).