smalt

[ smawlt ]

noun

1. a coloring agent made of blue glass produced by fusing silica, potassium carbonate, and cobalt oxide, used in powdered form to add color to vitreous materials.

smalt

/ smɔːlt /

noun

1. a type of silica glass coloured deep blue with cobalt oxide
2. a pigment made by crushing this glass, used in colouring enamels
3. the blue colour of this pigment

Word History and Origins

Origin of smalt¹

1550–60; < Middle French < Italian smalto smalto

Word History and Origins

Origin of smalt¹

C16: via French from Italian smalto , of Germanic origin; related to smelt ¹

Example Sentences

The inferior kinds of smalt are occasionally adulterated with chalk.

From Project Gutenberg

This blue is distinguished from smalt by dissolving in acetic acid.

From Project Gutenberg

The calx of cobalt is of a deep blue colour, which, when fused, makes the blue glass called smalt.

From Project Gutenberg

The smalt is usually composed of one part of calcined cobalt, fused with two parts of powder of flint and one of pot-ash.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes a little indigo blue or smalt is also added, when a peculiar bloom colour is desired.

From Project Gutenberg