cipolin
(ˈsɪpəlɪn)
Sometimes ‖ cipol(l)ino (tʃipolˈlino).
[a. F. cipolin, ad. It. cipollino, der. of cipolla onion; so called from its foliated structure like the coats of an onion.]
An Italian marble interfoliated with veins of talc, mica, quartz, etc., showing alternations of various colouring, especially white and green.
| 1798 Phil. Trans. LXXXVIII. 412 The texture of the matrix appears..often compact, like cipoline or primitive marble. 1811 Pinkerton Petral. I. 467 The cipolin..sometimes, though rarely, appears in level layers, divided by foliaceous mica. Ibid. I. 470 The mountains are all calcareous, with undulated veins mixed with mica, forming a fine cipolino. 1837 Penny Cycl. VII. 182/2 Cipolin..gives fire with steel, though with difficulty. 1863 Sir G. Scott Glean. Westm. Ab. (ed. 2) 98 Cippolino..is a white marble with green streaks. |