ˈfloat-stone
[f. float v. + stone.]
1. A bricklayer's rubbing-stone for smoothing the surfaces of bricks used in curved work.
| 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 246 Some use a Float Stone, with which they rub the moulding of the Brick. 1812 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art I. 196 The stone upon which bricks cut with curved surfaces are rubbed, is called a float-stone. |
2. A stone so light as to float upon water, e.g. a spongy variety of opal.
| 1805 R. Jameson Min. II. 552 Floatstone..is light yellowish grey. 1814 tr. Klaproth's Trav. 57 A range of float-stone hills. 1859 Page Handbk. Geol. Terms, Float-Stone, a variety of earthy silica..Being porous, it swims on water till saturated. |