fuller's earth

American  

noun

1. an absorbent clay, used especially for removing grease from fabrics, in fulling cloth, as a filter, and as a dusting powder.

---

fuller's earth British  

noun

1. a natural absorbent clay used, after heating, for decolorizing oils and fats, fulling cloth, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of fuller's earth

First recorded in 1515–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fuller's earth

I never could see the difference between fuller's earth and common clay, among them all.

From The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 (of 2) 1845-1846 by Robert Browning

At this time Norwich, famous for its worsted and woollen works and its fuller's earth, surpassed it in business importance.

From A History of the Four Georges, Volume I by Justin McCarthy

The minerals known to exist are—alum, antimony, arsenic, asbestos, boracide, chrome, coal, copper, emery, fuller’s earth, gold, iron, kaolin, lead, lignite, magnetic iron, manganese, meerschaum, mercury, nickel, rock-salt, silver, sulphur and zinc.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various

Nutfield's chief industry, the digging of fuller's earth, dates back to beginnings that are now quite forgotten.

From Highways and Byways in Surrey by Hugh Thomson

These are intermixed with masses and irregular beds of gray cinders and score, pumice, various kinds of lava, lithomarge, and fuller's earth.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 13, No. 363, March 28, 1829 by Various