† spaad Min. Obs.
Also 6–7 spawd(e, 7 spaud.
[ad. obs. G. spad, spade, varr. of spat spath1.]
A variety of talc, gypsum, or spar, or a powder prepared from one or other of these, mainly used to form moulds for casting metal objects.
| 1594 Plat Jewel-ho. iv. 44, I haue seene oftentimes many good patternes of mettall, cast off very sharpely in spawde alone, but..you must sprincle the spawd with some moisture. 1651 French Distill. v. 172 He that casts them [sc. antimony cups] must be skilfull in making his spawde. 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 154 [A sand] is sent for by Artists living at a great distance, and used by them as a spaud to cast Metalls with. a 1728 Woodward Fossils 14 English Talc, of which the coarser Sort is call'd Plaister, or Parget, the finer, Spaad, [or] Earth-Flax. 1738 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The various kinds of spaad are found pretty frequently in England and Germany;..they are all soft, and easily pulverized. |