sperm oil: Meaning and Definition of

sperm' oil"

Pronunciation: [key]
— Chem. Chem.
  1. a yellow, thin, water-insoluble liquid obtained from the sperm whale, used chiefly as a lubricant in light machinery, as watches, clocks, and scientific apparatus.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.