Balin stone

English

Etymology

Calque from Chinese 巴林石 (bālínshí), from 巴林 (Bālín, “Baarin (a southern Mongolian tribe)”) + 石 (shí, “stone”), from Manchu ᠪᠠᡵᡳᠨ (barin), from Middle Mongol ᠪᠠᠭᠠᠷᠢᠨ (baɣarin), so named for being quarried in the traditional territory of the Baarins.

Noun

Balin stone (uncountable)

1. (mineralogy) A type of pyrophyllite from Inner Mongolia; traditionally used in the Chinese art of seal engraving.