Also 7–8 brillant. [a. F. brillant in same sense, subst. use of brillant adj.]
1. A diamond of the finest cut and brilliancy.
(The brilliant differs from the rose, in having horizontal faces on its upper and under sides, called the table and the collet respectively, which are surrounded and united by facets, while the upper surface of the rose rises into a dome, and is covered with facets. The French brilliant consists of two truncated pyramids placed base to base. Watts.)
1690. Lond. Gaz., No. 2609/4. Lost … a square Diamond Brilliant, weighing eight grains.
1700. Dryden, Gd. Parson, 139. This brillant is so spotless and so bright He needs no foyl.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, V. i. The jeweller knows that the finest brilliant requires a foil.
1832. Babbage, Econ. Manuf., xvi. (ed. 3), 148. A brilliant which has successively graced the necks of a hundred beauties.
b. attrib. and in comb.
1705. Lond. Gaz., No. 4160/4. Lost … two single Brilliant Drops. Ibid. (1709), No. 4617/4. A Rose Diamond Ring, set with a large Brilliant Stone. Ibid. (1713), No. 5139/4. Ten Diamonds, all Brilliant cut.
1748. Mrs. Delany, Autobiog. (1861), II. 487. He has given her a very fine pair of brilliant earrings.
1761. Wilson, in Phil. Trans., LII. 444. Six of these gems are cut brilliant fashion.
† 2. A kind of silken fabric. Obs.
1719. J. Roberts, Spinster, 345. Many woollen stuffs, and stuffs mixed with silk, and even silks themselves … such as brilliants and pulerays, antherines and bombazines.
3. ‘A brisk, high mettled, stately horse, that has a rais’d neck, a high motion, excellent haunches’ (Bailey, vol. II., 1731); also in Craig, 1847.
4. A species of firework.
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 682. A fixed brilliant … gun powder, 16; steel-filings, 4.
5. The smallest type used in English printing, being a size less than ‘diamond.’ (A fancy name, suggested by pearl, ruby, diamond.)
1875. Ure, Dict. Arts, III. 640. The smallest is called Brilliant, but is seldom used.
