• IPA: /ˈlæpɪs/

lapis (uncountable)

1. (rare) Lapis lazuli.
   • 1735, [John Barrow], “ENGRAVING ↗”, in Dictionarium Polygraphicum: Or, The Whole Body of Arts Regularly Digested. [...], volume II (I–S), London: Printed for C[harles] Hitch and C[harles] Davis […], and S[amuel] Austen […], OCLC 987025732 ↗:

     Lapis, opal, &c. are poliſh'd on a wooden wheel. To faſhion and Engrave vaſes of agate, cryſtal, lapis, or the like, they make uſe of a kind of lathe like that us'd by pewterers, excepting that as the pewterers lathe holds the veſſels, which are to be wrought with proper tools; that of the Engraver generally holds the tools which are turn'd by a wheel, and the veſſels held to them to be cut and engraven either in relievo or otherwiſe; [...]

   • 1923 (reprinted 1993), Franklin Simon Fashion Catalog for 1923 (Franklin Simon & Co, New York), item number 53:

     French Bead Necklace of lapis or carnelian color, with crystal rondelles between each bead, graduated, 32 inches long.

   • 2010, Irene Winter (ed.), On Art in the Ancient Near East: From the Third Millennium B.C.E., page 291:

     That lapis lazuli in particular among the precious and semi-precious stones known from Mesopotamia was accorded considerable value in antiquity may be inferred from the archaeological record through association with high-status locii and goods. [...] deities receive votive gifts and booty of lapis, consisting of items of personal adornment and cult objects, while their temples are described as decorated with lapis or shining like lapis. [...] For example, the contents of the graves in the Royal Cemetery of Ur: [...] various objects employing inlay that include lapis among the insets, [...] Mari sent an emissary to acquire lapis from Lars.

   • 2011, Daniel Boscaljon, Hope and the Longing for Utopia: Futures and Illusions in Theology and Narrative, page 99:

     The buddha lands described in the Lotus share certain generic features: the ground is made of lapis or crystal; they are perfectly level, without mountains or valleys; they are free from all manner of filth, including the stench of latrines [...] The ground was made of lapis lazuli, [...]