‖ kieselguhr
(ˈkiːz(ə)lguːr)
[Ger. (named by Ehrenberg), f. kiesel gravel, chesil1 + guhr.]
An earth composed of the siliceous remains of diatoms, used as an absorbent of nitroglycerine in the manufacture of dynamite; diatomite.
| 1875 Ure's Dict. Arts II. 176 A porous, infusorial, silicious earth known in Germany as ‘Kieselguhr’. Ibid., None of these [absorbents] appeared thoroughly equal to Kieselguhr in their power of retaining a very large proportion of the oil. 1885 Martindale & Westcott Extra Pharmacop. (ed. 4) 226 Kieselguhr, a diatomaceous earth, known as white peat. |