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ambergris

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ambergris

Fatty substance, resembling wax, found in the stomach and intestines of the sperm whale. It is found floating in warm seas, and is used in perfumery as a fixative.

Basically intestinal matter, ambergris is not the result of disease, but the product of an otherwise normal intestine. The name derives from the French ambre gris (grey amber).



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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
And as for the other whale, why, I'll agree to get more oil by chopping up and trying out these three masts of ours, than he'll get from that bundle of bones; though, now that I think of it, it may contain something worth a good deal more than oil; yes, ambergris.
Moby Dick LXVIII-CXXXIV by Melville, Herman View in context
"She distils nothing of the kind, vile rabble," said Don Quixote, burning with rage, "nothing of the kind, I say, only ambergris and civet in cotton; nor is she one-eyed or humpbacked, but straighter than a Guadarrama spindle: but ye must pay for the blasphemy ye have uttered against beauty like that of my lady.
Don Quixote by Cervantes, Miguel View in context
I found myself in a large, vaulted room, lighted by tapers, scented with aloes and ambergris, standing in golden candle-sticks, whilst gold and silver lamps hung from the ceiling.
The Arabian Nights by Lang, Andrew View in context
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