Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Asbestos"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Asbestus \As*bes"tus\, Asbestos \As*bes"tos\ (?; 277), n. [L.
asbestos (NL. asbestus) a kind of mineral unaffected by fire,
Gr. ? (prop. an adj.) inextinguishable; 'a priv. + ? to
extinguish.] (Min.)
A variety of amphibole or of pyroxene, occurring in long and
delicate fibers, or in fibrous masses or seams, usually of a
white, gray, or green-gray color. The name is also given to a
similar variety of serpentine.
Note: The finer varieties have been wrought into gloves and
cloth which are incombustible. The cloth was formerly
used as a shroud for dead bodies, and has been
recommended for firemen's clothes. Asbestus in also
employed in the manufacture of iron safes, for
fireproof roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties
are called amianthus. --Dana.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
asbestos
n : a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles;
inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
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