glair

American  

[glair] / glɛər /

Or glaire

noun

1. the white of an egg.

2. a glaze or size made of egg white.

3. any viscous substance like egg white.

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verb (used with object)

1. to coat with glair.

glair British  

/ ɡlɛə /

noun

1. white of egg, esp when used as a size, glaze, or adhesive, usually in bookbinding

2. any substance resembling this

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verb

1. (tr) to apply glair to (something)

Other Word Forms

• glairiness noun
• glairy adjective

Etymology

Origin of glair

1300–50; Middle English glaire < Old French: white of an egg < Vulgar Latin *clāria; compare Latin clārus clear

Example Sentences

Then bolus is mixed with glair as a body colour, laid on sparingly, very evenly, and free from streakiness, using a thick hair brush for the purpose.

From Project Gutenberg

Some time before using, it should be scraped into a suitable vessel and mixed with glair.

From Project Gutenberg

Glair is now liberally applied with a thick hair brush, laying it on separately for each strip.

From Project Gutenberg

If the gold should be injured in any way, the press must be tilted so as to allow a little glair to run under the gold to the spot and then a larger piece is laid over the faulty place.

From Project Gutenberg

Slight flaws in the gold itself, or due to bubbles in the glair, may be put right by touching the faulty places with a small brush dipped in rectified spirit and immediately laying on a piece of gold; if the edges had not yet been gone over with the waxed rag, it would be sufficient to breathe on the place, lay on the gold, and burnish under paper.

From Project Gutenberg