isinglass

May. 31st, 2006 07:06 am
prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (Default)
[personal profile] prettygoodword
isinglass - n., any of various minerals (hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium) that crystalize in a form that cleaves into very thin sheets, such as mica; a transparent, almost pure gelatin prepared from the air bladder of the sturgeon and certain other fishes and used as an adhesive and a clarifying agent.


From probably by folk etymology from obsolete Dutch huizenblas, from Middle Dutch huusblase, from huus, sturgeon + blase, bladder. How that meaning was applied to mica is obscure. Especially since it's such a lovely fancy name for mica.

---L.
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