asbestos

as infireproof

Synonyms for asbestos

adj resistant to burning

Antonyms for asbestos

waterproof

Word Origin & History

1650s, earlier albeston, abestus (c.1100), name of a fabulous stone, which, set afire, could not be extinguished; from Old French abeste, abestos, from Latin asbestos "quicklime" (which "burns" when cold water is poured on it), from Greek asbestos, literally "inextinguishable," from a- "not" (see a- (3)) + sbestos, verbal adjective from sbennynai "to quench," from PIE root *(s)gwes- "to quench, extinguish" (cf. Lithuanian gestu "to go out," Old Church Slavonic gaso, Hittite kishtari "is being put out").

The Greek word was used by Dioscorides as a noun meaning "quicklime." "Erroneously applied by Pliny to an incombustible fibre, which he believed to be vegetable, but which was really the amiantos of the Greeks" [OED]. Meaning "mineral capable of being woven into incombustible fabric" is from c.1600 in English; earlier this was called amiant (early 15c.), from Latin amiantus, from Greek amiantos, literally "undefiled" (so called because it showed no mark or stain when thrown into fire). Supposed in the Middle Ages to be salamanders' wool. Prester John, the Emperor of India, and Pope Alexander III were said to have had robes or tunics made of it.

Example Sentences for asbestos

Then cover the vents with asbestos or a wet cloth as already described.

It is in operations such as this that the asbestos box will be found of great use.

This liability to breakage is reduced, but not eliminated, by the asbestos annealing.

A suitable bit of wood may be substituted for the asbestos on occasion.

Cars are now being built of steel, and of combinations of metal with asbestos.

Asbestos prepared in this way is called platinized asbestos.

Could asbestos fibers be used to replace the wire in a safety lamp?

Mineral Fibers: Asbestos, Tinsel, and other metallic fibers.

Canadian asbestos is almost pure white, and has long fibers.

The asbestos with which the chimney is lined should be about 1⁄8 in.

asbestos

Synonyms for asbestos

Antonyms for asbestos

More words related to asbestos

fireproof