The New Student's Reference Work/Lapidary

Lap′idary, a cutter, polisher and engraver of small stones, particularly of gems. The stone to be prepared is taken in the rough and placed under the slicing mill, a circular iron disk about eight inches in diameter and 1-200 of an inch thick; and, revolving rapidly, the faces and tables of the stone are cut; then the roughing mill of lead smoothens the surfaces; and finally the polishing mill, formerly of pewter covered with rotten stone but now often a wheel of walrus hide, adds polish to the surfaces. All these appliances are worked as machines, and thus effect more accurate cutting.