ball clay

American  

noun

Ceramics.

1. a fine dark kaolinic clay that turns white or nearly white when fired, used in the manufacture of a wide variety of ceramic wares in combination with other clays for its exceptional bonding properties and plasticity.

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Etymology

Origin of ball clay

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ball clay

For earthenware or china, the English potters use only two sorts of clays: the ball clay, also called blue clay, and the kaolin.

From British Manufacturing Industries Pottery, Glass and Silicates, Furniture and Woodwork. by Arnoux, L.

Silica, 50 parts; plastic fire clay, 10 parts; ball clay, 3 parts.

From Practical Mechanics for Boys by Zerbe, James Slough

The ball clay from Poole is dug in the neighbourhood of Wareham, by Mr. Pike.

From British Manufacturing Industries Pottery, Glass and Silicates, Furniture and Woodwork. by Arnoux, L.

The ball clay, as the former is called, may be of any color common to soils, not necessarily yellow or reddish as is sometimes supposed.

From American Rural Highways by Agg, T. R. (Thomas Radford)

The ball clay, exported from Teignmouth and Poole, comes from the lower tertiary clays of Devon and Dorset, and is remarkably good and plastic, the quantity of iron being comparatively very small.

From British Manufacturing Industries Pottery, Glass and Silicates, Furniture and Woodwork. by Arnoux, L.