† cat-silver Obs.
[In Ger. Katzensilber, Sw. kattsilfver. Mod.L. argentum felium; perh. with reference to its shining when it is nearly dark.]
Mica with a silvery appearance.
| 1583 J. Higins tr. Junius' Nomenclator (N.) Hujus species est et..mica..Cat silver. 1677 Plot Oxfordsh. 72 Whence I rather concluded it to be argentum felium, or Cat-silver, but that it would not shine in the dark. 1729 Woodward Fossils (J.) Catsilver..is of three sorts, the yellow or golden, the white or silvery, and the black. 1776 Seiferth Gellert's Metal. Chym. 10 Cat-silver, so the glimmer is called by the Germans, when it has the colour of..silver. |