ballas

noun

bal·​las

ˈbaləs

plural ballas

: a nearly spherical aggregate of diamond grains having a radial or granular structure and used as an industrial diamond because of a toughness that is due to the lack of throughgoing cleavage planes

Word History

Etymology

probably from Portuguese balas, plural of bala, literally, ball, bullet, from Italian palla, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ball

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