murrhine

American  

[mur-in, -ahyn] / ˈmɜr ɪn, -aɪn /

Or murrine

adjective

1. of, relating to, or manufactured of murra.

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murrhine British  

/ -ɪn, ˈmʌraɪn /

adjective

1. of or relating to an unknown substance used in ancient Rome to make vases, cups, etc

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noun

1. Also called: murra.  the substance so used

Etymology

Origin of murrhine

1570–80; < Latin murr ( h ) inus, for Greek mourrínē, equivalent to mórr ( ia ) murra + -inē feminine noun suffix; see -ine ¹

Example Sentences

"He dropped a murrhine vase," was the answer.

From A Friend of Caesar A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic. Time, 50-47 B.C. by Davis, William Stearns

Sometimes purple glass is used in place of brown, probably with the design of imitating the precious murrhine.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 1 "Gichtel, Johann" to "Glory" by Various

I see murrhine cups, for luxury would be too cheap if men did not drink to one another out of hollow gems the wine to be afterwards thrown up again.

From L. Annaeus Seneca on Benefits by Stewart, Aubrey

F. Corsi, the eminent Italian antiquary, held that fluor-spar was the material of the famous murrhine vases.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

The murrhine cups, of the nature of which there has been much unsatisfactory discussion, according to Pliny, came from Karmania in Parthia; from Parthia they came to Egypt, and thence to Rome.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 18 Historical Sketch of the Progress of Discovery, Navigation, and Commerce, from the Earliest Records to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century, By William Stevenson by Stevenson, William