n. [ Cf. F. harmaline See Harmel. ] (Chem.) An alkaloid found in the plant Peganum harmala. It forms bitter, yellow salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. nema thread, Gr. nh^ma, fr. ne`ein to spin. ] (Min.) Having the form of threads; fibrous. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the genus Timalus or family Timalidae, which includes the babblers thrushes, and bulbuls. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. tourmaline, cf. It. turmalina, tormalina, NL. turmalina, turmalinus; all fr. tournamal, a name given to this stone in Ceylon. ] (Min.) A mineral occurring usually in three-sided or six-sided prisms terminated by rhombohedral or scalenohedral planes. Black tourmaline (schorl) is the most common variety, but there are also other varieties, as the blue (indicolite), red (rubellite), also green, brown, and white. The red and green varieties when transparent are valued as jewels. [ Written also turmaline . ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Crystals of tourmaline when heated exhibit electric polarity (see Pyroelectric, n.). Tourmaline is also used in the form of a polariscope called tourmaline tongs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) See Tourmaline. [ 1913 Webster ]