Category:Terra

Ter"ra, n. Etym: [it. & l. See terrace.]

Defn: the earth; earth. Terra alba etym: [l., white earth] (com.), a White amorphous earthy substance consisting of burnt gypsum, Aluminium silicate (kaolin), or some similar ingredient, as magnesia. It is sometimes used to adulterate certain foods, spices, candies, Paints, etc. -- terra cotta. Etym: [it., fr. terra earth + cotta, fem. of cotto Cooked, l. coctus, p.p. of coquere to cook. See cook, n.] Baked clay; A kind of hard pottery used for statues, architectural decorations, Figures, vases, and the like. -- terræ filius etym: [l., son of the earth], formerly, one Appointed to write a satirical latin poem at the public acts in the University of oxford; -- not unlike the prevaricator at cambridge, England. -- terra firma etym: [l.], firm or solid earth, as opposed to water. -- terra japonica. Etym: [nl.] Same as gambier. It was formerly Supposed to be a kind of earth from japan. -- terra lemnia etym: [l., Lemnian earth], lemnian earth. See under Lemnian. -- terra ponderosa etym: [l., ponderous earth] (min.), barite, or Heavy spar. -- terra di sienna. See sienna.