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scagliola

[skal-yoh-luh]
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noun
  1. plasterwork imitating marble, granite, or the like.
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Origin of scagliola

1575–85; < Italian, equivalent to scagli(a) a chip (< Gothic skalja tile; cognate with shell) + -ola diminutive suffix
Related formsscagl·io·list, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for scagliola

Historical Examples

  • In the interior of this temple is a large black sarcophagus, resting on pedestals of Scagliola marble.

    Chelsea

    George Bryan

  • The walls are of Scagliola, and the ceiling is supported by a succession of white marble pillars.

  • The sides of the library are adorned by Scagliola pilasters and arched recesses, which contain the books.

British Dictionary definitions for scagliola

scagliola

noun
  1. imitation marble made of glued gypsum with a polished surface of coloured stone or marble dust
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Word Origin

C16: from Italian, diminutive of scaglia chip of marble, of Germanic origin; related to shale, scale ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012