terracotta

[ Ital.cotta =baked; Lat. cocta, fem. of pa. par. of coquo to cook; Fr. terre cuite.] le sand, or calcined flints, and pulverized pot 1. A compound of pure clay, fine-grained, color sherds, molded, dried in the air, and baked in a kiln. It is especially used for architectural decorations, figures, vases, . 2. A work of art in terra-cotta; spec if., applied to small figures in terra-cotta found in funeral monuments in this country. *terra-cultural, a. Of or pertaining to terra culture; agricultural. *terra-culture, subst . Cultivation of the earth; agriculture. terra di Sienna, subst . A ferruginous, ocherous earth, used as a pigment in both oil and watercolor painting in its raw state and when burnt. In the latter instance it becomes of a deep orange tint, and dries more rapidly. It is transparent and durable; mixed with various blues, it yields many useful tints of green.