argil

Legend, Bp . S. Androis , p. 338. [Fr. argile clay; Sp. & Port. argilla , arcilla ; Ital. argiglia , argilla : Lat. argilla; Gr. ἄργιλλος ( argillos ) οι ἄργίλος (αr gilos ) = white clay, potters' earth.] [ARGENT.] 1. White clay, potters' earth. 2. In compos.: Alumina. "Clay, strictly speaking, is a mixture of silex, or flint, with a large proportion, usually about one fourth, of alumine or argil ."-Lyell: Manual of Geology , 4th ed., London, 1852, p. 11. ar-gil-lā-çě oŭs, a . [In Fr. argilacé : Port. argillaceo; Lat. argil lace us ; from argilla .] Consisting in whole or in considerable measure of clay; clayey. argillaceous rocks. Rocks into the composition of which alumina pretty largely enters. When breathed upon they give out a peculiar earthy odour, arising from alumina apparently combined with oxide of iron. Example: mud, clay, shale. ( Lyell : Geology .) argillaceous schist. Another name for CLAY SLATE (q.v.). ( Ibid.)