† ˈpolverine Obs.
[ad. It. polverino, f.polvere:—L. pulverem dust, powder + -ino, -ine4]
The calcined ashes of a plant, probably Salsola Soda, brought from the Levant and Syria, of the nature of pot- or pearl-ash, and used in glass-making; glass-makers' ashes.
| 1662 Merrett tr. Neri's Art of Glass i. 1 Polverine, or Rochetta, which comes from the Levant.., is the ashes of a..herb. 1712 tr. Pomet's Hist. Drugs I. 104 Crystal Fritt, made with Polverine, or Pot-Ashes, and Salt of Tartar. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v. Crystal, Mix this powder with the pure salts of polverine. 1823 Crabb Technol. Dict., Polverine. 1828 Webster, Polverin, polverine. |