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i·sin·glass

(īzən-glăs′, īzĭng-)

1. A transparent, almost pure gelatin prepared from the swim bladder of the sturgeon and certain other fishes and used as an adhesive and a clarifying agent.

2. Mica in thin, transparent sheets.

[By folk etymology (influenced by GLASS) from obsolete Dutch huizenblas, from Middle Dutch hūsblase : hūs, sturgeon + blase, bladder; see bhlē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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