Word Study
kelp
CIDE DICTIONARY
kelp, n. [Formerly kilpe; of unknown origin.].
- The calcined ashes of seaweed, -- formerly much used in the manufacture of glass, now used in the manufacture of iodine. [1913 Webster]
- Any large blackish seaweed. [1913 Webster]"
Laminaria is the common kelp of Great Britain;Macrocystis pyrifera andNereocystis Lutkeana are the great kelps of the Pacific Ocean." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
kelp, n.
1 any of several large broad-fronded brown seaweeds esp. of the genus Laminaria, suitable for use as manure.
2 the calcined ashes of seaweed formerly used in glass-making and soap manufacture because of their high content of sodium, potassium, and magnesium salts.
1 any of several large broad-fronded brown seaweeds esp. of the genus Laminaria, suitable for use as manure.
2 the calcined ashes of seaweed formerly used in glass-making and soap manufacture because of their high content of sodium, potassium, and magnesium salts.
Etymology
ME c{uuml}lp(e), of unkn. orig.
THESAURUS
kelp
algae, autophyte, bean, bracken, brown algae, climber, conferva, confervoid, creeper, diatom, fern, fruits and vegetables, fucus, fungus, grapevine, green algae, gulfweed, herb, heterophyte, ivy, legume, lentil, liana, lichen, liverwort, mold, moss, mushroom, parasite, parasitic plant, pea, perthophyte, phytoplankton, planktonic algae, plant families, puffball, pulse, red algae, rockweed, rust, saprophyte, sargasso, sargassum, sea lentil, sea moss, sea wrack, seaweed, smut, succulent, toadstool, vetch, vine, wort, wrackFor further exploring for "kelp" in Webster Dictionary Online