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pela |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Wax \Wax\, n. [AS. weax; akin to OFries wax, D. was G. wachs OHG. wahs, Icel. & Sw vax, Dan. vox, Lith. vaszkas Russ. vosk'.] 1. A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb; -- usually called beeswax. It is first excreted, from a row of pouches along their sides, in the form of scales, which being masticated and mixed with saliva, become whitened and tenacious. Its natural color is pale or dull yellow. Note: Beeswax consists essentially of cerotic acid (constituting the more soluble part) and of myricyl palmitate (constituting the less soluble part). 2. Hence any substance resembling beeswax in consistency or appearance. Specifically: a (Physiol.) Cerumen, or earwax. See {Cerumen}. b A waxlike composition used for uniting surfaces, for excluding air, and for other purposes; as sealing wax, grafting wax, etching wax, etc c A waxlike composition used by shoemakers for rubbing their thread. d (Zo["o]l.) A substance similar to beeswax, secreted by several species of scale insects, as the Chinese wax. See {Wax insect}, below. e (Bot.) A waxlike product secreted by certain plants. See {Vegetable wax}, under {Vegetable}. f (Min.) A substance, somewhat resembling wax, found in connection with certain deposits of rock salt and coal; -- called also mineral wax, and ozocerite. g Thick sirup made by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple, and then cooling. [Local U. S.] {Japanese wax}, a waxlike substance made in Japan from the berries of certain species of {Rhus}, esp. {R. succedanea}. {Mineral wax}. (Min.) See {Wax}, 2 (f), above. {Wax cloth}. See {Waxed cloth}, under {Waxed}. {Wax end}. See {Waxed end}, under {Waxed}. {Wax flower}, a flower made of or resembling, wax. {Wax insect} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of scale insects belonging to the family {Coccid[ae]}, which secrete from their bodies a waxlike substance, especially the Chinese wax insect ({Coccus Sinensis}) from which a large amount of the commercial Chinese wax is obtained. Called also {pela}. {Wax light}, a candle or taper of wax. {Wax moth} (Zo["o]l.), a pyralid moth ({Galleria cereana}) whose larv[ae] feed upon honeycomb, and construct silken galleries among the fragments. The moth has dusky gray wings streaked with brown near the outer edge. The larva is yellowish white with brownish dots. Called also {bee moth}. {Wax myrtle}. (Bot.) See {Bayberry}. {Wax painting}, a kind of painting practiced by the ancients, under the name of encaustic. The pigments were ground with wax, and diluted. After being applied, the wax was melted with hot irons and the color thus fixed. {Wax palm}. (Bot.) a A species of palm ({Ceroxylon Andicola}) native of the Andes, the stem of which is covered with a secretion, consisting of two thirds resin and one third wax, which when melted with a third of fat, makes excellent candles. b A Brazilian tree ({Copernicia cerifera}) the young leaves of which are covered with a useful waxy secretion. {Wax paper}, paper prepared with a coating of white wax and other ingredients. {Wax plant} (Bot.), a name given to several plants, as: a The Indian pipe (see under {Indian}). b The {Hoya carnosa}, a climbing plant with polished, fleshy leaves. c Certain species of {Begonia} with similar foliage. {Wax tree} (Bot.) a A tree or shrub ({Ligustrum lucidum}) of China, on which certain insects make a thick deposit of a substance resembling white wax. b A kind of sumac ({Rhus succedanea}) of Japan, the berries of which yield a sort of wax. c A rubiaceous tree ({El[ae]agia utilis}) of New Grenada, called by the inhabitants ``arbol del cera.'' {Wax yellow}, a dull yellow, resembling the natural color of beeswax. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pela \Pe"la\, n. (Zo["o]l.) See {Wax insect}, under {Wax}.
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