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 • Jul. 29, 2022

The Wellcome collection has dug out a cigar holder carved in 1864 from meerschaum clay, which was commonly used for making pipes.

From The Guardian • May 21, 2013

Willie Usery, Secretary of Labor, who had just mediated the Teamster settlement, puffed on his big white meerschaum pipe and ticked some of them off: rubber workers, electrical-appliance workers, meat packers, construction workers.

From Time Magazine Archive

If the parties seem particularly antagonistic, Usery will stoke up his meerschaum pipe and keep everyone together for a session of stories and jokes.

From Time Magazine Archive

Spassky, looking uncomfortable, sat on Bobby’s right, and Vasiljevic, smoking a meerschaum pipe and appearing relaxed, was on his left.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady