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spermaceti |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spermaceti \Sper`ma*ce"ti\, n. [L. sperma sperm + cetus,gen. ceti, any large sea animal, a whale, Gr ???. See {Sperm}, {Cetaceous}.] A white waxy substance obtained from cavities in the head of the sperm whale, and used making candles, oilments cosmetics, etc It consists essentially of ethereal salts of palmitic acid with ethal and other hydrocarbon bases. The substance of spermaceti after the removal of certain impurities is sometimes called cetin. {Spermaceti whale} (Zo["o]l.), the sperm whale. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: spermaceti n : a white waxy substance from oil of the sperm whale
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