meerschaum

American  

[meer-shuhm, -shawm] / ˈmɪər ʃəm, -ʃɔm /

noun

1. a mineral, hydrous magnesium silicate, H 4 Mg 2 Si 3 O 1 0 , occurring in white, claylike masses, used for ornamental carvings, for pipe bowls, etc.; sepiolite.

2. a tobacco pipe with a bowl made of this substance.

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meerschaum British  

/ ˈmɪəʃəm /

noun

1. Also called: sepiolite.  a white, yellowish, or pink compact earthy mineral consisting of hydrated magnesium silicate: used to make tobacco pipes and as a building stone. Formula: Mg 2 Si 3 O 6 (OH) 4

2. a tobacco pipe having a bowl made of this mineral

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Etymology

Origin of meerschaum

1775–85; < German Meerschaum, equivalent to Meer sea ( mere ² ) + Schaum foam

Example Sentences

If, on the flip side, you have been consuming exclusively comics, exciting news: You are now twice as prestigious as you thought and can go buy a meerschaum smoking pipe.

From Washington Post

Woodstock’s nest is stolen, and Snoopy transforms into Sherlock Holmes, donning a deerstalker hat, blowing bubbles out of his meerschaum pipe and dusting for fingerprints in an effort to locate the culprit.

From New York Times

And, if sometimes in doing so, I feel as if I am impersonating Henry Higgins, though without the meerschaum, I can live with that.

From New York Times

The old gentleman leaned back in his chair and lighted an enormous meerschaum pipe—Good gracious, he breathes fire, thought the Wart, who had never heard of tobacco—before he was ready to reply.

From Literature

If you feel your life would be more complete with a meerschaum pipe or an Ottoman dagger, then Avrupa Pasajı is the place for you.

From The Guardian