ambergris English · revision 1102

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæm.bə.ɡɹɪs/ ''(UK)''; /ˈæm.bɚ.ɡɹɪs/, /ˈæm.bɚ.ɡɹis/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|frm|ambre gris|t=grey amber]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''ambre'' “amber” and ''gris'' “grey”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) French ''ambre'' goes back through Medieval Latin to [[ar|عَنْبَر|tr=ʿanbar]],^(Etymonline) and ''gris'' is of Germanic origin.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[amber]] and [[grizzled]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A grey waxy substance from the sperm whale, used in perfumery (probably before 1425; 1481–90 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its origin was known to Constantinus Africanus in the 11th century but remained a puzzle in Johnson's day;^(Etymonline) he recorded nine theories.^(Etymonline) It was formerly also used in cookery,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and is now used as a fixative in perfumes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – ''ambergris''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1481–90 – the OED's first quotation.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A waxy, greyish substance formed in the intestines of [[sperm whale|alt=sperm whales]], found floating at sea or washed ashore, and used in [[perfume|alt=perfumes]] to slow evaporation.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amber]]

+ * [[grizzle]]

+ * [[grey]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}