bone black

noun

: the black residue chiefly of tribasic calcium phosphate and carbon from bones calcined in closed vessels used especially as a pigment or as a decolorizing adsorbent in sugar manufacturing

called also bone char

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1735, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of bone black was circa 1735

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Bone black.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bone%20black. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

bone black

noun

: the black chiefly carbon matter that is left from bones heated in a closed container and is used especially as a pigment or a material to remove color from other things