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n. An impure oxide of cobalt, used to produce a blue color in enamel and in the making of smalt. [Italian zaffera, from Old French safre, perhaps alteration of safir, sapphire; see SAPPHIRE, or from Arabic ṣufr, yellow copper, brass, from 'aṣfar, yellow; see ṣpr2 in the Appendix of Semitic roots.] |
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