whiting

whiting, white, powdery substance, prepared by grinding chalk or some other source of calcium carbonate. When mixed with linseed oil it forms putty, and with water and several other substances it constitutes whitewash. It is used as a pigment, called Spanish white, as a filler in paints, for polishing metalware, and for various other purposes.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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