stesch@parsec:~$ dict ruby
7 definitions found

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:

  Ruby \Ru"by\, a.
     Ruby-colored; red; as, ruby lips.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:

  Ruby \Ru"by\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Rubied}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Rubying}.]
     To make red; to redden. [R.] --Pope.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:

  Ruby \Ru"by\, n.; pl. {Rubies}. [F. rubis (cf. Pr. robi), LL.
     rubinus, robinus, fr. L. rubeus red, reddish, akin to ruber.
     See {Rouge}, {red}.]
     1. (Min.) A precious stone of a carmine red color, sometimes
        verging to violet, or intermediate between carmine and
        hyacinth red. It is a red crystallized variety of
        corundum.
  
     Note: Besides the true or Oriental ruby above defined, there
           are the balas ruby, or ruby spinel, a red variety of
           spinel, and the rock ruby, a red variety of garnet.

From WordNet (r) 1.6 [wn]:

  ruby
       adj : having any of numerous bright or strong colors reminiscent
             of the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
             [syn: {red}, {reddish}, {ruddy}, {blood-red}, {carmine},
              {cerise}, {cherry}, {cherry-red}, {crimson}, {ruby-red},
              {scarlet}]
       n 1: a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished
            and is valued as a precious gem
       2: a transparent deep red variety of corundum; used as a
          gemstone and in lasers
       3: a deep and vivid red [syn: {crimson}, {deep red}]

From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:

  Ruby, AK (city, FIPS 65590)
    Location: 64.71757 N, 155.52066 W
    Population (1990): 170 (92 housing units)
    Area: 19.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
    Zip code(s): 99768
  Ruby, MI
    Zip code(s): 48049
  Ruby, SC (town, FIPS 62080)
    Location: 34.74414 N, 80.17974 W
    Population (1990): 300 (148 housing units)
    Area: 8.1 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
    Zip code(s): 29741

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]:

  Ruby
  
     1. A {relational language} designed by Jones and M. Sheeran in
     1986 for describing and designing circuits (a {hardware
     description language}).  Ruby programs denote {binary
     relation}s and programs are built-up inductively from
     primitive relations using a pre-defined set of {relational
     operator}s.  Ruby programs also have a geometric
     interpretation as networks of primitive relations connected by
     wires, which is important when layout is considered in circuit
     design.
  
     Ruby has been continually developed since 1986, and has been
     used to design many different kinds of circuits, including
     {systolic array}s, {butterfly network}s and arithmetic
     circuits.
  
     {(ftp://ftp.cs.chalmers.se/pub/misc/ruby/)} (129.16.225.66).
     E-mail: <graham / cs.chalmers.se>.
  
     ["Ruby - A Language of Relations and Higher-Order Functions",
     M. Sheeran, Proc 3rd Banff Workshop on Hardware Verification,
     Springer 1990].
  
     (1994-10-27)
  
     2. One of five pedagogical languages based on {Markov
     algorithm}s, used in Higman's report (below).  The other
     languages are {Brilliant}, {Diamond}, {Nonpareil} and {Pearl}.
  
     ["Nonpareil, a Machine Level Machine Independent Language for
     the Study of Semantics", B. Higman, ULICS Intl Report No ICSI
     170, U London (1968)].
  
     (1994-10-27)
  
  

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Ruby
     (Heb. peninim), only in plural (Lam. 4:7). The ruby was one of
     the stones in the high priest's breastplate (Ex. 28:17). A
     comparison is made between the value of wisdom and rubies (Job
     28:18; Prov. 3:15; 8:11). The price of a virtuous woman is said
     to be "far above rubies" (Prov. 31:10). The exact meaning of the
     Hebrew word is uncertain. Some render it "red coral;" others,
     "pearl" or "mother-of-pearl."