From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
jasper
n : an opaque form of quartz; red or yellow or brown or dark
green in color; used for ornamentation or as a gemstone
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Jasper \Jas"per\, n. [OE. jaspre, jaspe, OF. jaspre, jaspe, F.
jaspe, L. iaspis, Gr. ?; cf. Per. yashp, yashf, Ar. yashb,
yasb, yasf, Heb. y[=a]shpheh. Cf. Diaper.] (Min.)
An opaque, impure variety of quartz, of red, yellow, and
other dull colors, breaking with a smooth surface. It admits
of a high polish, and is used for vases, seals, snuff boxes,
etc. When the colors are in stripes or bands, it is called
striped jasper or banded jasper. The Egyptian pebble is a
brownish yellow jasper.
[1913 Webster]
Jasper opal, a yellow variety of opal resembling jasper.
Jasper ware, a delicate kind of earthenware invented by
Josiah Wedgwood. It is usually white, but is capable of
receiving color.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Wedgwood ware \Wedg"wood` ware`\ [From the name of the inventor,
Josiah Wedgwood, of England.]
A kind of fine pottery, the most remarkable being what is
called jasper, either white, or colored throughout the
body, and capable of being molded into the most delicate
forms, so that fine and minute bas-reliefs like cameos were
made of it, fit even for being set as jewels.
[1913 Webster]