Căr'bun-cle, n.

(kär'bunk-l, 82), n. [Lat. carbunculus, a little coal, a bright kind of precious stone, a kind of tumor, a disease of plants, dim. of carbo, coal; Fr. carboncle.]

1. (Min.) A beautiful gem, of a deep-red color, with a mixture of scarlet, called by the Greeks anthrax: found in the East Indies. It is usually found pure, of an angular figure, and adhering to a heavy, ferruginous stone, of the emery kind. Its ordinary size is one fourth to two thirds of an inch. When held up to the sun, it loses its deep tinge, and becomes exactly of the color of a burning coal.
2. (Med.) A malignant boil, or inflammation of the cellular membrane and the skin, forming a hard, round tumor, differing from a common boil in having no central core, and being of longer continuance; an anthrax.
3. (Her.) A charge or bearing consisting of rays considered as representing the jewel called carbuncle. Burke.