Adjacent Words

Isinglass definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

I'SINGLASS, n. i'zinglass. [that is, ise or ice-glass.]
A substance consisting chiefly of gelatin, of a firm texture and whitish color, prepared from the sounds or air-bladders of certain fresh water fishes, particularly of the huso, a fish of the sturgeon kind, found in the rivers of Russia. It is used as an agglutinant and in fining wines.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity [syn: mica, isinglass]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: probably by folk etymology from obsolete Dutch huizenblas, from Middle Dutch huusblase, from huus sturgeon + blase bladder Date: 1535 1. a semitransparent whitish very pure gelatin prepared from the air bladders of fishes (as sturgeons) and used especially as a clarifying agent and in jellies and glue 2. mica especially when in thin transparent sheets; especially muscovite 2

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a kind of gelatin obtained from fish, esp. sturgeon, and used in making jellies, glue, etc. 2 mica. Etymology: corrupt. of obs. Du. huisenblas sturgeon's bladder, assim. to GLASS

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Isinglass I"sin*glass, n. [Prob. corrupted fr. D. huizenblas (akin to G. hausenblase), lit., bladder of the huso, or large sturgeon; huizen sturgeon + blas bladder. Cf. Bladder, Blast a gust of wind.] 1. A semitransparent, whitish, and very pure from of gelatin, chiefly prepared from the sounds or air bladders of various species of sturgeons (as the Acipenser huso) found in the of Western Russia. It used for making jellies, as a clarifier, etc. Cheaper forms of gelatin are not unfrequently so called. Called also fish glue. 2. (Min.) A popular name for mica, especially when in thin sheets.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mica Mi"ca, n. [L. mica crumb, grain, particle; cf. F. mica.] (Min.) The name of a group of minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic. They differ widely in composition, and vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called isinglass. Formerly called also cat-silver, and glimmer. Note: The important species of the mica group are: muscovite, common or potash mica, pale brown or green, often silvery, including damourite (also called hydromica); biotite, iron-magnesia mica, dark brown, green, or black; lepidomelane, iron, mica, black; phlogopite, magnesia mica, colorless, yellow, brown; lepidolite, lithia mica, rose-red, lilac. Mica (usually muscovite, also biotite) is an essential constituent of granite, gneiss, and mica slate; biotite is common in many eruptive rocks; phlogopite in crystalline limestone and serpentine. Mica diorite (Min.), an eruptive rock allied to diorite but containing mica (biotite) instead of hornblende. Mica powder, a kind of dynamite containing fine scales of mica. Mica schist, Mica slate (Geol.), a schistose rock, consisting of mica and quartz with, usually, some feldspar.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Fish-glue, ichthyocol, ichthyocolla, carlock.