ambergris
1
9.9
A waxy gray substance from sperm whales that sometimes washes up on beaches and was used in perfumes
- noun
- /ˈæmbərɡrɪs/
- Specialized
:
ámbar gris
- Raw ambergris base.
Examples
-
In the past, sailors sometimes found ambergris washed up on the beach.
-
- Ambergris is a whale product.
-
The monks' most expensive product was a recipe that mixed rose oil with cloves, cinnamon, mace, musk, ambergris, citron, and cedar.
Fiction book (1990) -
The perfumer added ambergris to the fragrance to create a unique scent.
-
Many luxury perfumes still use ambergris for its distinctive aroma.
Surface Forms
ambergris singular
ambergrises plural
Etymology
The word ambergris comes from old French words amber and gris, meaning 'amber' and 'grey'. Think of it as 'grey amber', a rare, waxy lump made in sperm whales that often washes up on beaches and was once prized by perfumers because it gives a strong, long-lasting scent.