Definition of ISINGLASS

isinglass

Plural: isinglasses

Noun

  • 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
  • A form of gelatine obtained from the air bladder of the sturgeon and certain other fish, used as an adhesive and as a clarifying agent for wine and beer.
  • A thin, transparent sheet of mica (probably from its similarity to true isinglass and/or resulting from confusion with the term Muscovy glass for glazing made from mica, but also used for isinglass, which was chiefly produced in the Caspian Sea region of Russia, or Muscovy).

Origin / Etymology

Apparently from obsolete Dutch huisenblas, from German Hausenblase, from Hausen (“sturgeon of the Huso genus”) + Blase (“bladder”).

Synonyms

mica

Scrabble Score: 10

isinglass: valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
isinglass: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
isinglass: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

isinglass is a valid Words With Friends word