Spermaceti

[,spә:mә'seti]

Definition

(noun.) a white waxy substance from oil of the sperm whale.

Checked by Felicia--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) A white waxy substance obtained from cavities in the head of the sperm whale, and used making candles, oilments, cosmetics, etc. It consists essentially of ethereal salts of palmitic acid with ethal and other hydrocarbon bases. The substance of spermaceti after the removal of certain impurities is sometimes called cetin.

Edited by Elena

Definition

n. a waxy matter obtained mixed with oil from the head of the sperm-whale—purified by draining off the oil and repeatedly washing with hot water and weak boiling potash-lye.—adj. derived from or yielding spermaceti.—n. Spermacet′i-whale the sperm-whale.

Edited by Gillian