ambergris

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun

A solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull gray to blackish color, formed within the intestines of the sperm whale and used in the production of perfumes.

Pronunciation

/ˈæm.bɚ.ɡɹɪs/ /ˈæm.bɚ.ɡɹis/ /ˈæm.bə.ɡɹɪs/ en-us-ambergris.ogg

Word forms

ambergris ambergrises amber-gris amber gris ambergreece amber-greece amber greece ambergrease amber-grease amber grease ambergreese amber-greese ambergrise amber-grise amber grise ambergreace amber-greace amber greace ambergrece amber-grece amber grece ambergrese amber-grese amber grese ambergrice amber-grice amber grice ambergriece amber-griece amber griece ambergriese amber-griese amber griese ambregrise ambregris amber de gris

Etymology

From Old French ambre gris (“grey amber”). Though the term was initially spaced as two words, single-word forms predominated by the 19th century. In the 17th century, folk etymologies interpreting the term as amber grease or amber [of] Greece enjoyed some popularity.

Synonyms

amber grey amber

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