Meaning of Isinglass | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A form of gelatine obtained from the air bladder of the sturgeon and certain other fish, used as an adhesive and as a clarifying agent for wine and beer.
   uncountable, usually
2. A thin, transparent sheet of mica (probably from its similarity to true isinglass and/or resulting from confusion with the term Muscovy glass for glazing made from mica, but also used for isinglass, which was chiefly produced in the Caspian Sea region of Russia, or Muscovy).
   uncountable, usually

Equivalents

Examples

“Isinglass flummery.—Put⟳ six ounces of isinglass into a quart of new milk, sweeten it, set⟳ it over the fire, and keep⟳ it stirring one way all the time, till it is jellied; pour⟳ it into basins, and when cold turn⟳ it out; you may put⟳ in orange flower water if you like⟳.”

“Isinglass is a substance well known in commerce, from its employment both in the arts and in domestic economy. It is the purest known form⟳ of animal jelly, and is obtained from the swimming bladder of a few kinds of fish⟳, chiefly of the genus Sturgeon, the Acipenser of zoologists. This is indicated by some of its continental names, of which the English is no doubt⟳ a corruption;—thus, in German, Isinglass is called Hausenblase, from hausen the great sturgeon, and blase a bladder.”

“Isinglass is brought to market in different forms, sometimes in that of simple plates, at other times rolled up in different shapes, or cut⟳ into fine thread. When of good quality isinglass is of a whitish colour, thin, and semi-transparent, but tough and flexible, destitute of taste⟳ as well as of smell⟳. The inferior kinds are thicker, yellowish-coloured, opaque, and sometimes have⟳ a fishy smell⟳ and taste⟳. In boiling water isinglass is entirely dissolved, with the exception of a very minute portion of impurities.”

“Isinglass.—This is procured from the air-bag or swimming-bladder, sometimes termed the sound⟳, of various fishes. […] Sometimes the bag is dried unopened, as in the case of the purse, pipe, and lump isinglasses of the shops. At other times it is laid open⟳, and submitted to some preparation; being either dried unfolded, as in the leaf and honeycomb isinglasses; or folded, as in the staple (long and short) and book isinglasses; or rolled out, as in the ribbon isinglass.”

“The sturgeon yielded a non-food product that was important for domestic and commercial use⟳. This was isinglass, a gelatinous substance that was derived from the inner membrane of the air bladder (also called the swimbladder, or sound⟳). Isinglass had a variety of uses. The Ojibway valued it as an effective binding agent in the manufacture⟳ of paint⟳. Isinglass was also a product much in demand⟳ in Europe during the fur trade⟳ period. It was noted as producing a high quality glue and as a fining agent for beers and wines.”

“Not all fish⟳ have⟳ swim⟳ bladders, and those from certain tropical or semitropical areas (roughly 20° N and 15° S) provide⟳ the best quality isinglass for fining purposes. Of these fish⟳, the threadfin family (Polynemoidia) provide⟳ excellent quality. In order⟳ to gain⟳ a desirable fining quality for a particular beer type⟳, two or more kinds of isinglass may be blended. To illustrate⟳ this more precisely, Polynemus isinglass provides a fining that settles densely, whereas Silurus isinglass, from the great catfish family (Siluridae) in South America, gives a more flocculant fining but which settles less densely and consequently is more easily disturbed.”

“TALC. / GENUS I. / ISINGLASS. / VITRUM. / Compoſed of broad, flat, cloſe, poliſhed Plates.”

“There is a general error prevalent that mica is isinglass, and many times it is spoken of as isinglass, but there is a great difference between the two. Mica is mainly composed of silicate of aluminum, while isinglass is a fish⟳ gelatine or glue […]”

“MICA (ISINGLASS). Mica is valuable because of its perfect cleavage, transparency, elasticity, non-conductivity of heat and electricity, resistance to decomposition, and non-inflammability. It is mostly used as an insulating material in the manufacture⟳ of electrical apparatus.”

“The dashboard's genuine leather, / With isinglass curtains y' can roll right down, / In case there's a change⟳ in the weather.”

“THE FRONT DOORS OF MY STOVE HAD WINDOWS of isinglass (mica) which needed replacement. While impervious to heat, isinglass is quite fragile and one must avoid⟳ touching these panels when using the doors. The panels are held in place⟳ by a frame bracket screwed to the inside of each door. Fortunately, a supply⟳ of extra mica panels was found in the house.”

“Do you enjoy⟳ the amber glow seen through the isinglass window of a wood stove? […] Muscovite (colorless, white, or pale red or green) mica is also common[…]; it was named for Moskva (Moscow), where much of Europe's mica was mined. Isinglass, mentioned above, consists of thin, transparent sheets of muscovite.”

CEFR level