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meerschaum |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Meerschaum \Meer"schaum\, n. [G., lit., sea foam; meer sea + schaum foam; but it perh. is a corruption of the Tartaric name myrsen Cf {Mere} a lake, and {Scum}.] 1. (Min.) A fine white claylike mineral, soft, and light enough when in dry masses to float in water. It is a hydrous silicate of magnesia, and is obtained chiefly in Asia Minor. It is manufacturd into tobacco pipes, cigar holders, etc Also called {sepiolite}. 2. A tobacco pipe made of this mineral. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: meerschaum n 1: a white clayey mineral [syn: {sepiolite}] 2: a pipe having a bowl made of meerschaum From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: MEERSCHAUM, n. (Literally, seafoam and by many erroneously supposed to be made of it.) A fine white clay, which for convenience in coloring it brown is made into tobacco pipes and smoked by the workmen engaged in that industry. The purpose of coloring it has not been disclosed by the manufacturers. There was a youth (you've heard before This woeful tale, may be), Who bought a meerschaum pipe and swore That color it would he! He shut himself from the world away Nor any soul he saw. He smoke by night, he smoked by day As hard as he could draw. His dog died moaning in the wrath Of winds that blew aloof; The weeds were in the gravel path, The owl was on the roof. "He's gone afar, he'll come no more," The neighbors sadly say And so they batter in the door To take his goods away Dead, pipe in mouth, the youngster lay, Nut-brown in face and limb. "That pipe's a lovely white," they say "But it has colored him!" The moral there's small need to sing -- 'Tis plain as day to you: Don't play your game on any thing That is a gamester too Martin Bulstrode
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