Late 19th Century Inventions: Plastic Late 19th Century Inventions: Plastic Plastic is a synthetic material made from the small molecules of organic compounds. The widespread use of plastics today makes it hard to believe that the first major breakthrough in plastic development did not occur until 1862. Once this breakthrough occurred, other inventors experimented with organic materials to create new and better versions. Plastic is now found in water bottles, food storage containers, grocery bags, and countless other products. Its widespread use makes it one of the most versatile materials in the world. Parkesine Alexander Parkes invented the first man-made plastic in 1856. Parkes worked in the electroplating department of a brass lock manufacturing company where he developed the skills he would later use in creating his inventions. One of his most important patents was for Parkesine, a celluloid-based thermoplastic that was treated with several solvents. As the first man-made plastic, Parkesine was very useful and had many features similar to that of modern plastic. After inventing Parkesine, Alexander Parkes opened the Parkesine Company and tried to mass-produce his invention.

Unfortunately, the company failed because Parkes tried to reduce costs by using cheap, low-quality materials. Although the company failed, other companies continued to produce and sell celluloid. Celluloid The invention of celluloid was one of the most controversial developments in the history of plastic production. John Wesley Hyatt and his brother Isaac conducted several experiments using Parkesine as a substitute for the ivory that was once used to make billiard balls. After many experiments, Hyatt eventually produced a solid nitrocellulose. He patented the product in 1869 and formed the Albany Dental Plate Company in 1870. Hyatt used his company to produce false teeth, billiard balls, and piano keys. This development became controversial when Daniel Spill, an English inventor, filed several court cases against Hyatt. Spill patented the same substance in the United Kingdom, making it difficult to determine who should own the rights. These cases eventually went to court, where it was decided that Parkes really invented celluloid. However, the judge determined that all celluloid manufacturing could continue. Bakelite In 1907, Leo Baekeland developed the first completely synthetic plastic.

Baekeland was a Belgian chemist who set up his own consulting business in 1881. After setting up this business, he turned his attention toward producing photographic paper. He and Leonardi Jacobi formed the Nepera Chemical Company together, but there were no buyers for his products. His luck changed when George Eastman offered him $1 million for his process. He used the money from this business deal to fund his other inventions; one of which was Bakelite plastic. Made from coal tar resin, Bakelite took on the shape of its container as it hardened. This invention was an improvement on earlier plastics because Bakelite did not melt under heat or stress. This made it suitable for making clock cases, radio cases, and jewelry that would withstand high temperatures. Bakelite also had several industrial applications due to its high resistance to heat, electricity, and chemical action. Electrical and automobile companies used this material in electron tubes, distributor caps, light bulb sockets, and insulators. The most common modern uses of Bakelite are industrial electrical applications and brake pad construction. Cellophane Jacques E. Brandenberger, a Swiss chemist, developed cellophane in 1908.

Ever since he saw a glass of wine spill on a tablecloth, he wanted to invent a cloth to repel liquids. He worked with several types of fabric, and tried spraying waterproof coating on each. He did not get the desired results from any of these experiments, as the coated fabric was too stiff. However, the sprays left behind a clear film that separated easily from the cloth. He began working with this film and experimenting with different production processes. In 1912, he developed a machine to produce the film and filed a patent for cellophane. Demand was not high at first because it was not moisture proof. In 1927, William Hale Church made cellophane moisture proof by spraying it with a lacquer. Following this development, cellophane sales increased drastically. Now it is a common, everyday household product. Polyethylene In 1933, plastic became more versatile with the invention of polyethylene. This is a flexible, durable form of plastic that is chemically resistant and inexpensive to produce. This is the type of plastic used to produce food storage containers, milk jugs, water bottles, plastic bags, soda bottles, and other similar products.

It was a popular substance during World War II, as its chemical properties made it ideal for insulating defense systems. At the end of the war, manufacturers started using polyethylene for other purposes. It was the first plastic to sell more than one billion pounds per year in the United States. The Invention of Plastic The following resources offer more information about plastic and the inventors who contributed to the development of this versatile material. Ivories | Define Ivories at Dictionary.com ivories the keys of a piano 2. noun (pl) -ries 1. a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals (as modifier): ivory ornaments a tusk made of ivory 3. a substance resembling elephant tusk 5. an ornament, etc, made of ivory 6. ivory-like, adjective Word Origin C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant Ivory noun 1. James. born 1928, US film director.

With the producer Ismael Merchant, his films include Shakespeare Wallah (1964), Heat and Dust (1983), A Room With a View (1986), and The Golden Bowl (2000) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for ivories Expand ivory n. mid-13c. (late 12c. as a surname), Anglo-French ivorie, from Old North French ivurie (12c.), from Latin eboreus "of ivory," from ebur (genitive eboris) "ivory," probably via Phoenician from an African source (cf. Egyptian ab "elephant," Coptic ebu "ivory").

Replaced Old English elpendban, literally "elephant bone." Applied in slang to articles made from it, such as dice (1830) and piano keys (1854). As a color, especially in reference to human skin, it is attested from 1580s. Ivories as slang for "teeth" dates from 1782. Related: Ivoried. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper The teeth: as fine a display of ivories as we've seen in our time (1782+) Dice; a pair of dice (1830+) The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D. Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers. ivories in the Bible Expand (Heb. pl. shenhabbim, the "tusks of elephants") was early used in decorations by the Egyptians, and a great trade in it was carried on by the Assyrians (Ezek. 27:6; Rev. 18:12).

It was used by the Phoenicians to ornament the box-wood rowing-benches of their galleys, and Hiram's skilled workmen made Solomon's throne of ivory (1 Kings 10:18). It was brought by the caravans of Dedan (Isa. 21:13), and from the East Indies by the navy of Tarshish (1 Kings 10:22). Many specimens of ancient Egyptian and Assyrian ivory-work have been preserved. The word _habbim_ is derived from the Sanscrit _ibhas_, meaning "elephant," preceded by the Hebrew article (ha); and hence it is argued that Ophir, from which it and the other articles mentioned in 1 Kings 10:22 were brought, was in India. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary Ivory - definition of ivory by The Free Dictionary Ivory - definition of ivory by The Free Dictionary Related to ivory: ivory tower i·vo·ry n. pl. i·vo·ries 1. a. A hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance composed primarily of dentin that forms the tusks of the elephant. b.

A similar substance forming the tusks or teeth of certain other mammals, such as the walrus. 2. A tusk, especially an elephant's tusk. 3. An article made of ivory. 4. A substance resembling ivory. 5. A pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white. 6. ivories 1. Composed or constructed of ivory. 2. Of a pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white. [Middle English ivorie, from Old French ivoire, ivurie, from Latin eboreus, of ivory, from ebur, ebor-, ivory, from Coptic ebou, elephant, from Egyptian 'bw.] ivory n, pl -ries 1. (Zoology) a. a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals b. (as modifier): ivory ornaments. 2. (Zoology) a tusk made of ivory 3. (Colours) a. a yellowish-white colour; cream b. (as adjective): ivory shoes. 4. a substance resembling elephant tusk 5. an ornament, etc, made of ivory 6.

(Historical Terms) black ivory obsolete Black slaves collectively [C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant] ˈivory-ˌlike adj 2. adj (colour) → avorio inv; (object) → d'avorio ivory (ˈaivəri) noun, adjective (of) the hard white substance forming the tusks of an elephant, walrus etc. Ivory was formerly used to make piano keys; ivory chessmen.

ivoor عاج слонова кост marfim slonovina; slonovinový das Elfenbein; elfenbeinern elfenben; elfenbens- φίλντισι, φιλντισένιος marfil elevandiluu عاج norsunluu ivoire שנהב गजदंत, हाथी का दांत slonova kost elefántcsont gading fílabein avorio ; d'avorio 象牙 (の) 상아질 dramblio kaulas ziloņkauls; ziloņkaula- gading ivoor elfenbein kość słoniowa عاج يا د فيل غاښ marfim (de/din) fildeş слоновая кость slonovina; slonovinový slonova kost; slonokoščen slonovača elfenben งาช้าง fildişi , fildişinden yapılmış 象牙(製的) слонова кістка; зроблений і

з слонової кістки ہاتھی دانت ngà voi 象牙， 象牙制成的 ivory Ivory Billiard Balls | National Museum of American History Ivory Billiard Balls Description The best billiard balls once came exclusively from the tusks of Asian elephants.

No natural material other than elephant ivory had the physical size, strength, and beauty to perform in the billiard room and the concert hall. But mass markets in the western world for ivory billiard balls, combs, piano keys, and commercial trinklets, placed the wild elephant in serious jeopardy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While one African elephant tusk could yield hundreds of slips of piano key ivory, only four or five quality billiard balls could be made from the average tusk of an Indian, Ceylonese, or Indo-Chinese elephant. Raw tusks arrived at shops in New York and Chicago where master ivory turners would reduce blocks of ivory to gleaming spheres. Today, synthetic materials attempt to reproduce the performance of ivory balls on the billiard table, while in dark corners of old pool halls and in the collections of the Smithsonian, balls such as this one from 1925 recall a time when, at the expense of elephants, the only real billiard balls were cut from fresh Asian ivory.

Location ivory - WordReference.com Dictionary of English Ivory WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2017 i•vo•ry /ˈaɪvəri, ˈaɪvri/USA pronunciation n., pl. -ries, adj. n. Zoology[ uncountable ] the hard white substance similar to dentine that makes up the main part of the tusks, esp. of the elephant and walrus. [ countable ] a tusk yielding ivory. Slang Terms[ countable ]a tooth. Slang Termsivories, [plural] the keys of a piano. dice. [ uncountable ] a creamy or yellowish white. adj. consisting or made of ivory:[before a noun]an ivory carving. of the color ivory. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2017 i•vo•ry (ī′və rē, ī′vrē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ries, adj. n. Zoologythe hard white substance, a variety of dentin, composing the main part of the tusks of the elephant, walrus, etc.

this substance when taken from a dead animal and used to make carvings, billiard balls, etc. some substance resembling this. an article made of this substance, as a carving or a billiard ball. a tusk, as of an elephant. dentin of any kind. Slang Termsa tooth, or the teeth. Slang Termsivories: the keys of a piano or of a similar keyboard instrument. dice. Also called vegetable ivory. the hard endosperm of the ivory nut, used for ornamental purposes, for buttons, etc. a creamy or yellowish white. a smooth paper finish produced by coating with beeswax before calendering. adj. consisting or made of ivory. of the color ivory. i′vo•ry•like′, adj. Latin eboreus (adjective, adjectival), equivalent.

to ebor- (stem of ebur) ivory + -eus adjective, adjectival suffix; see -eous Old French ivurie Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: ivory /ˈaɪvərɪ -vrɪ/ n ( pl -ries) a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals (as modifier): ivory ornaments a tusk made of ivory a yellowish-white colour; cream The Post-Billiards Age - 99% Invisible The Post-Billiards Age 99pi We live in a post-billiards age. There was an age of billiards, and it has been over for so long, most of us have no idea how huge billiards once was. For many decades, starting in the mid-19th Century, billiards was the one of the most popular amusements. A hundred years ago, there were 830 pool halls in the city of Chicago. Today, there are ten. Billiards is not what it used to be—but we continue to live in a world affected by its former prominence.

The growth of billiards led to the development of a material that would come to define the modern world. Without billiards, we might never have discovered plastic. The story starts with a man named Michael Phelan, the father of American billiards. Michael Phelan, from his book The Game of Billiards (1859). Courtesy of the Chicago Billiard Museum Phelan was a brilliant player, and he also promoted the sport, arranging the biggest big-money matches. He opened huge billiards halls in San Francisco and New York. And Phelan believed that to further popularize the game of billiards, he would need to standardize the gear. If tables and balls weren’t the same from one location to another— well, you were basically playing a different game every time you went somewhere new. Michael Phalen’s billiard saloon on 10th Street & Broadway in New York City. Courtesy of the New York Public Library. So he patented a new kind of billiard cushion. And then, he took the money from that, as well as what he had won playing billiards and writing books on billiards, and used it to become the first big manufacturer of billiards tables and equipment.

But standardizing the billiard ball was no easy task. The ball has to have certain physical properties—it has to rebound properly, and be of uniform density. And, at the time, there was really only one material that would do: ivory. Ivory billiard balls. Courtesy of liveauctioneers.com Ivory was not cheap. Going to Africa, shooting elephants, processing their tusks and shipping them across an ocean was dangerous and expensive. Not to mention horrible. People in the billiards industry started looking for substitutes for ivory. They tried a variety of materials, like wood and iron, but they didn’t perform nearly as well. Ivory balls had just the right weight, the most even roll, the best rebound. Nothing was as good. And not only that, but only the best grade ivory would do. In fact, records from the ivory trade sometimes refer to the top grade as “billiard ball ivory.” Billiard balls required a lot of billiard-ball grade ivory. Unlike the ivory on piano keys, which were just a veneer of over wood, billiard balls had to be made of 100% solid ivory. The average number of billiard balls that could be obtained from a single tusk was three.

A pile of more than 20,000 billiard balls, representing the lives of thousands of elephants. Courtesy of snookergames . The cost of ivory billiard balls was a problem for Phelan, who was trying to grow his company. He and his colleagues were acutely aware that they needed another material to work with. Phelan took out an ad in the paper, offering $10,000 to anyone who could come up with a suitable replacement for ivory. In terms of wages people earned at the time , that was like three million dollars. A tinkerer named John Wesley Hyatt found the ad. Hyatt was a printer, not a scientist. But in his work he used a number of different chemicals, including nitrated cellulose. Nitrated cellulose was used by printers to protect their hands and is still sold today as liquid bandages . Hyatt found that the material turned out to have very interesting properties. In particular, when dissolved, it created a kind of syrupy liquid. He tried making a film out of it, and then putting it through a press. In doing this, he created the first plastic.

He called it “celluloid.” But Hyatt did not win Phelan’s prize. Celluloid turned out be useful for a number of things, but it was not right for billiard balls. The balls just didn’t bounce right. Hyatt tried to make a go of it anyway, setting up his own billiard ball company, making balls with a thin veneer of celluloid over a layer of plaster on the inside. But they were considered very inferior billiard balls. Still, Hyatt didn’t give up on celluloid. He went into business with his brother Isaiah, setting up companies to try to find new uses for the material. Eventually they find that the best use for celluloid is imitation ivory. Albeit, not for billiard balls, but for versions of popular ivory luxury goods, such as knife handles, combs, and hand mirrors. And of course, celluloid would eventually be used to make film for movies. Though celluloid had one fatal flaw: it burned easily. Celluloid film caused several disastrous and fatal fires in movie theaters. Celluloid hadn’t worked for billiard balls, but it did inspire others to make other types of plastics.

One of them was Leo Baekeland, who, in 1907, came up with a new kind of petroleum-based plastic. He named it Bakelite, after himself. And Bakelite plastic was perfect for billiard balls. Courtesy of the National Museum of American History By the 1940s, even top pool tournaments were being played with plastic balls. But by then, pool had passed its peak. It crashed as the Depression began , and never regained its former prominence. The age of billiards was over. We have been in the post-billiards age—the age of plastics—ever since. Michael Phelan would be very sad about the state of billiard nows. He loved the game so much that he concluded his magnum opus on billiards with five pages of rhyming coupl ets Does “steelyards” rhyme with “billiards?” Enjoy 99pi?

Ivory - New World Encyclopedia Ivory Next (Ivy) An elaborately carved ivory decoration Ivory is the hard, smooth, substance, composed primarily of dentin, that constitutes the tusks, or upper incisors, of elephants (family Elephantidae), including the extinct mammoths (genus Mammuthus), as well as the elephant-like mastodons (family Mammutidae, order Proboscidea). More generally, the term is used for a similar, yellowish-white, dentin-composed substance comprising the tusks and teeth of other animals, including walruses , hippopotamuses , the helmeted hornbill bird (Rhinoplax vigil), and whales (sperm, killer, and narwhal). The term also refers to the tusks or teeth of these animals. While the word "ivory" was traditionally applied to the tusks of elephants (the word is ultimately from Ancient Egyptian âb, âbu, meaning "elephant"), and has expanded to include other animals, today it also is used for imitation substances that resemble ivory.

For example, the terms "Genuine French Ivory" and "Indian Ivory" refer to an imitation ivory and there is even a vegetable ivory made form seeds of a South American palm tree (MFMHS). The beauty, smoothness, ease of carving, adhesive hardness, and durability of ivory has made it attractive for many ornamental and practical uses. It has been used for piano keys, billiard balls, bagpipes , buttons, and a wide range of ornamental items. At the same time, the historical popularity of ivory has resulted in rapid declines of elephants and other animals taken for the ivory trade. While ivory can be taken from dead or live animals, most has been taken from live animals, and particularly elephants killed for their tusks. The importation and sale of ivory currently is banned or severely restricted in many countries. Contents Structure Section through the ivory tooth of a mammoth Dentin is the main component of ivory. Dentin is a calcified tissue of the body, make up largely of mineralized connective tissue and collagen . It is one of the four major components of most teeth and tusks, the others being enamel, cementum, and pulp.

Usually, it is covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root and surrounds the entire pulp. Teeth and tusks have the same origins. Teeth are specialized structures adapted for food chewing. Tusks are extremely large modified teeth projecting beyond the lips. Teeth and tusks have the same physical structures: pulp cavity, dentine, cementum and enamel. The innermost area is the pulp cavity. The pulp cavity is an empty space within the tooth that conforms to the shape of the pulp. The porous, yellow-hued dentin is made up of about 70 percent inorganic materials (mainly hydroxylapatite and some non-crystalline amorphous calcium phosphate), 20 percent organic materials (90 percent of which is collagen type type and the remaining ten percent ground substance, which includes dentine-specific proteins ), and ten percent water (which is absorbed on the surface of the minerals or between the crystals). There are different types of dentin, differentiated by appearance and stage of development. Because it is softer than enamel, it decays more rapidly, but due to its elastic properties it is a good support for enamel. Its flexibility prevents the brittle enamel fracturing.

Dentinal tubules are structures that span the entire thickness of dentin and form as a result of the mechanism of dentin formation. The three dimensional configuration of the dentinal tubules is under genetic control and is therefore a characteristic unique to the order, although in many mammalian species the tubules follow a gentle helical course through the solid matrix. The structure of the dentinal tubules contributes both to its porosity (useful for piano keys) and its elasticity (useful for billiard balls.) Elephant tusks are formed with a thin, partial cap of enamel, which soon wears away, leaving the dentin exposed. They do have a cementum layer, referred to by ivory dealers as the bark or rind (Springate 2000). Elephant ivory has a fine, even grain, which is easily carved, and is uniquely characterized by Lines of Retzius or Lines of Schregar, which are visible in cross section and give the appearance of intersecting lines with a diamond shape between them (engine-turned effect) (Springate 2000; MFMHS).

Hippopotamus ivory has a thick enamel coating, is denser and harder to carve than elephant ivory, and has a finer grain; it is often used for flat items, such as buttons and inlays (Springate 2000). Walrus ivory has a primary dentin layer and a secondary dentine layer, with the secondary layer having a marbled appearance (MFMHS). The ivory of various animals differ in many other ways (Springate 2000; MFMHS). There are even detectable differences between African and Asian ivory, with African ivory harder and with a translucent, yellow appearance, and Asian ivory softer and with an opaque, white appearance (MFMHS). Synthetic substitutes and plant ivory Synthetic substitutes for ivory have been developed. One imitation ivory is made from cellulose nitrate and another from casein (the phosphoprotein that accounts for nearly 80 percent of proteins in milk and cheese) (MFMHS). In the late nineteenth century, faux ivory was commonly used, and known as Genuine French Ivory, Indian Ivory, Ivorine, among other names (MFMHS).

Plastics have been viewed by piano purists as an inferior ivory substitute on piano keys, although other recently developed materials more closely resemble the feel of real ivory. The difference between synthetic and natural ivory is easy to detect by the lack of irregular canal lines in synthetic ivory, and even if high-quality imitations are made with simulated lines, these tend to be repeating rather than irregular (MFMHS). Under ultraviolet light, synthetics will fluoresce a dull blue, and natural ivory a bright blue (MFMHS). A species of hard nut is gaining popularity as a replacement for ivory, although its size limits its usability. It is sometimes called vegetable ivory, or tagua, and is the seed endosperm of the ivory nut palm commonly found in coastal rainforests of Ecuador , Peru , and Colombia (Farrar 2005). Uses of ivory Ivory has been a most prestigious material for carving. Carving of tusks is an ancient art. Mammoth tusks were carved by Paleolithic Cro-Magnons during the late stages of the ice age . Both the Greek and Roman civilizations used large quantities of ivory to make high value works of art, precious religious objects, and decorative boxes for costly objects.

Ivory was often used to form the white of the eyes of statues. Mammoth Ivory carved figurine The Chinese have long valued ivory for both art and utilitarian objects. Early reference to the Chinese export of ivory is recorded after the Chinese explorer Zhang Qian ventured to the west to form alliances to enable for the eventual free movement of Chinese goods to the west; as early as the first century B.C.E. , ivory was moved along the Northern Silk Road for consumption by western nations (Hogan 2007). Southeast Asian kingdoms included tusks of the Indian elephant in their annual tribute caravans to China. Chinese craftsmen carved ivory to make everything from images of Buddhist and Taoist deities to opium pipe (Martin 2007). Ivory cover of the Codex Aureus of Lorsch, c. 810, Carolingian dynasty, Victoria and Albert Museum The Indianized Buddhist cultures of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar (Burma), Thailand , Laos , and Cambodia traditionally harvested ivory from their domesticated elephants. Ivory was prized for containers due to its ability to keep an airtight seal.

Ivory was also commonly carved into elaborate seals utilized by officials to "sign" documents and decrees by stamping them with their unique official seal (Stiles 2003). In Southeast Asian countries where Muslim Malay peoples live, such as Malaysia , Indonesia , and the Philippines , ivory was the material of choice for making the handles of magical kris daggers. In the Philippines, ivory was also used to craft the faces and hands of Catholic icons and images of saints. Before plastics were invented, ivory was important for cutlery handles, musical instruments, billiard balls, and many other items. Tooth and tusk ivory can be carved into a vast variety of shapes and objects. A small example of modern carved ivory objects are small statuary, netsukes, jewelry, flatware handles, furniture inlays, and piano keys. Additionally, warthog tusks, and teeth from sperm whales , orcas, and hippos can also be scrimshawed or superficially carved, thus retaining their morphologically recognizable shapes. Availability Men with ivory tusks, Dar es Salaam , c. 1900 Ivory can be taken from dead or live animals.

For example, tusks of extinct mammoths have been used for the ivory trade. However, most ivory has been taken from elephants killed for their tusks. It is estimated that consumption in Great Britain alone in 1831 amounted to the deaths of nearly 4,000 elephants. Other animals, which are now endangered, have also been preyed upon. For example, hippos , which have very hard white ivory prized for making artificial teeth have been a focus of the ivory trade (Tomlinson 1866). Due to the rapid decline in the populations of the animals that produce it, the importation and sale of ivory in many countries currently is banned or severely restricted. Much of the decline in population is due to poachers during and before the 1980s. Since the worldwide ivory trade ban in 1989 there have been ups and downs in elephant populations, and ivory trade as bans have been placed and lifted. Many African countries including Zimbabwe , Namibia , and Botswana claim that ivory trade is necessary—both to stimulate their economies and reduce elephant populations that are considered to be harming the environment.

In 2002, the United Nations partially lifted the ban on ivory trade, allowing a few countries to export certain amounts of ivory. The effectiveness of the policy remains in question. Trade in the ivory from the tusks of dead mammoths has occurred for 300 years and continues to be legal. Mammoth ivory is used today to make handcrafted knives and similar implements. References Ivory | Define Ivory at Dictionary.com ivory [ahy-vuh-ree, ahy-vree] /ˈaɪ və ri, ˈaɪ vri/ Spell noun, plural ivories. 1. the hard white substance, a variety of dentin, composing the main part of the tusks of the elephant, walrus, etc. 2. this substance when taken from a dead animal and used to make carvings, billiard balls, etc. 3. an article made of this substance, as a carving or a billiard ball. 5. a tusk, as of an elephant. 6. Slang. a tooth, or the teeth. 8. dice . 9. Also called vegetable ivory . the hard endosperm of the ivory nut, used for ornamental purposes, for buttons, etc. 10.

a creamy or yellowish white. 11. a smooth paper finish produced by coating with beeswax before calendering. adjective consisting or made of ivory. 13. Latin 1250-1300 1250-1300; Middle English < Old French ivurie < Latin eboreus (adj.), equivalent to ebor- (stem of ebur) ivory + -eus adj. suffix; see -eous Related forms Examples from the Web for ivory Expand Bones Edgar Wallace Dolores stood motionless before the window, undazzled, like a statue of ivory and gold in a stone niche. British Dictionary definitions for ivory Expand noun (pl) -ries 1. a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals (as modifier): ivory ornaments a tusk made of ivory 3. a substance resembling elephant tusk 5. an ornament, etc, made of ivory 6.

ivory-like, adjective Word Origin C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant Ivory noun 1. James. born 1928, US film director. With the producer Ismael Merchant, his films include Shakespeare Wallah (1964), Heat and Dust (1983), A Room With a View (1986), and The Golden Bowl (2000) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for ivory Expand n. mid-13c. (late 12c.

as a surname), Anglo-French ivorie, from Old North French ivurie (12c.), from Latin eboreus "of ivory," from ebur (genitive eboris) "ivory," probably via Phoenician from an African source (cf. Egyptian ab "elephant," Coptic ebu "ivory"). Replaced Old English elpendban, literally "elephant bone." Applied in slang to articles made from it, such as dice (1830) and piano keys (1854). As a color, especially in reference to human skin, it is attested from 1580s. Ivories as slang for "teeth" dates from 1782. Related: Ivoried. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper ivory (ī'və-rē) The hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance forming the teeth and tusks of certain animals, such as the tusks of elephants and walruses and the teeth of certain whales. Ivory is composed of dentin. The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.

ivory in the Bible Expand (Heb. pl. shenhabbim, the "tusks of elephants") was early used in decorations by the Egyptians, and a great trade in it was carried on by the Assyrians (Ezek. 27:6; Rev. 18:12). It was used by the Phoenicians to ornament the box-wood rowing-benches of their galleys, and Hiram's skilled workmen made Solomon's throne of ivory (1 Kings 10:18). It was brought by the caravans of Dedan (Isa. 21:13), and from the East Indies by the navy of Tarshish (1 Kings 10:22). Many specimens of ancient Egyptian and Assyrian ivory-work have been preserved. The word _habbim_ is derived from the Sanscrit _ibhas_, meaning "elephant," preceded by the Hebrew article (ha); and hence it is argued that Ophir, from which it and the other articles mentioned in 1 Kings 10:22 were brought, was in India.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary Ivory-like - definition of ivory-like by The Free Dictionary Ivory-like - definition of ivory-like by The Free Dictionary n. pl. i·vo·ries 1. a. A hard, smooth, yellowish-white substance composed primarily of dentin that forms the tusks of the elephant. b. A similar substance forming the tusks or teeth of certain other mammals, such as the walrus. 2. A tusk, especially an elephant's tusk. 3. An article made of ivory. 4. A substance resembling ivory. 5. A pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white. 6. ivories 1. Composed or constructed of ivory. 2. Of a pale or grayish yellow to yellowish white. [Middle English ivorie, from Old French ivoire, ivurie, from Latin eboreus, of ivory, from ebur, ebor-, ivory, from Coptic ebou, elephant, from Egyptian 'bw.] ivory n, pl -ries 1. (Zoology) a. a hard smooth creamy white variety of dentine that makes up a major part of the tusks of elephants, walruses, and similar animals b.

(as modifier): ivory ornaments. 2. (Zoology) a tusk made of ivory 3. (Colours) a. a yellowish-white colour; cream b. (as adjective): ivory shoes. 4. a substance resembling elephant tusk 5. an ornament, etc, made of ivory 6. (Historical Terms) black ivory obsolete Black slaves collectively [C13: from Old French ivurie, from Latin evoreus made of ivory, from ebur ivory; related to Greek elephas ivory, elephant] ˈivory-ˌlike adj 2. adj (colour) → avorio inv; (object) → d'avorio ivory (ˈaivəri) noun, adjective (of) the hard white substance forming the tusks of an elephant, walrus etc. Ivory was formerly used to make piano keys; ivory chessmen.

ivoor عاج слонова кост marfim slonovina; slonovinový das Elfenbein; elfenbeinern elfenben; elfenbens- φίλντισι, φιλντισένιος marfil elevandiluu عاج norsunluu ivoire שנהב गजदंत, हाथी का दांत slonova kost elefántcsont gading fílabein avorio ; d'avorio 象牙 (の) 상아질 dramblio kaulas ziloņkauls; ziloņkaula- gading ivoor elfenbein kość słoniowa عاج يا د فيل غاښ marfim (de/din) fildeş слоновая кость slonovina; slonovinový slonova kost; slonokoščen slonovača elfenben งาช้าง fildişi , fildişinden yapılmış 象牙(製的) слонова кістка; зроблений і

з слонової кістки ہاتھی دانت ngà voi 象牙， 象牙制成的 ivory What are elephant tusks used for?

| Reference.com What are elephant tusks used for? A: Quick Answer Elephant tusks are used for obtaining ivory, a hard, white substance that can be found only in the tusks and teeth of certain mammals. The ivory itself is used to make a variety of items that are typically used to show affluence, wealth or importance. Full Answer Much like many gemstones, ivory is expensive but not practically useful. Ivory can fetch as much as $1,000 per pound in some areas. The uses for ivory are primarily decorative. Carved ivory is used to make works of art, religious objects and decorative boxes for costly objects. Historically, ivory was used to make the whites of eyes for statues. It also has been used for fans, false teeth and even dominoes. Before plastic was invented, elephant tusks and their ivory were used to make cutlery handles, musical instruments, billiard balls and piano keys. Although international trade in Asian elephant ivory has been banned since 1975, elephant tusks are used all over the world. The biggest market for ivory is in East Asia.

Chinese craftsmen use ivory to carve images of deities, pipes, daggers, chopsticks, jewelry, ornaments, souvenirs and hair accessories. Some Asian nations also highly value elephant tusks for their apparent medicinal properties. Even though science has verified the lack of medicinal properties in ivory, there is still a high demand. The ivory trade is blamed for a dramatic drop in the elephant population from 1979 to 1989, says Animal-Rights-Action. Thousands of elephants are still killed each year in Africa for their tusks, according to The Atlantic.

Question: What substance was once used to make billiard balls and piano keys?
Answer: Ivory