spermaceti

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: sper=ma=cet=i

CIDE DICTIONARY

spermaceti, 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.  [1913 Webster]

Spermaceti whale (Zoöl.), the sperm whale.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

spermaceti, n. a white waxy substance produced by the sperm whale to aid buoyancy, and used in the manufacture of candles, ointments, etc.

Derivative

spermacetic adj.

Etymology

ME f. med.L f. LL sperma sperm + ceti genit. of cetus f. Gk ketos whale, from the belief that it was whale-spawn

ROGET THESAURUS

spermaceti

Oil

N oil, fat, butter, cream, grease, tallow, suet, lard, dripping exunge, blubber, glycerin, stearin, elaine, oleagine, soap, soft soap, wax, cerement, paraffin, spermaceti, adipocere, petroleum, mineral, mineral rock, mineral crystal, mineral oil, vegetable oil, colza oil, olive oil, salad oil, linseed oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, nut oil, animal oil, neat's foot oil, train oil, ointment, unguent, liniment, aceite, amole, Barbados tar, fusel oil, grain oil, rape oil, seneca oil, hydrate of amyl, ghee, heating oil, #2 oil, No, 2 oil, distillate, residual oils, kerosene, jet fuel, gasoline, naphtha, stearin.