[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

isinglass \i"singlass\, n. prob. corrupted fr. d. huizenblas
   akin to g. hausenblase, lit., bladder of the huso, or large
   sturgeon; huizen sturgeon + blas bladder. cf. bladder,
   blast a gust of wind.
   1913 webster
   1. a semitransparent, whitish, and very pure form of gelatin,
      chiefly prepared from the sounds or air bladders of
      various species of sturgeons as the acipenser huso
      found in the rivers of western russia. it used for making
      jellies, as a clarifier, etc. cheaper forms of gelatin are
      not unfrequently so called. called also fish glue.
      1913 webster

   2. min. a popular name for mica, especially when in thin
      sheets.
      1913 webster
see also:
bladder blast acipenser huso fish glue 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

mica \mi"ca\, n. l. mica crumb, grain, particle; cf. f. mica.
   min.
   the name of a group of minerals characterized by highly
   perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very
   thin leaves, more or less elastic. they differ widely in
   composition, and vary in color from pale brown or yellow to
   green or black. the transparent forms are used in lanterns,
   the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called
   isinglass. formerly called also cat-silver, and
   glimmer.
   1913 webster

   note: the important species of the mica group are:
         muscovite, common or potash mica, pale brown or
         green, often silvery, including damourite also
         called hydromica and muscovy glass; biotite,
         iron-magnesia mica, dark brown, green, or black;
         lepidomelane, iron, mica, black; phlogopite,
         magnesia mica, colorless, yellow, brown; lepidolite,
         lithia mica, rose-red, lilac.
         1913 webster mica usually muscovite, also biotite
         is an essential constituent of granite, gneiss, and
         mica slate; biotite is common in many eruptive rocks;
         phlogopite in crystalline limestone and serpentine.
         1913 webster

   mica diorite min., an eruptive rock allied to diorite but
      containing mica biotite instead of hornblende.

   mica powder, a kind of dynamite containing fine scales of
      mica.

   mica schist, mica slate geol., a schistose rock,
      consisting of mica and quartz with, usually, some
      feldspar.
      1913 webster
see also:
isinglass cat-silver glimmer muscovite damourite hydromica 
muscovy glass biotite lepidomelane phlogopite lepidolite 
mica diorite mica powder mica schist mica slate 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

isinglass
     n : any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of
         aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that
         allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as
         dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity
         syn: mica
see also:
mica 

Isinglass >> I Words
Isinglass, definition of term: Isinglass
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