Terra \Ter"ra\, n. [It. & L. See Terrace.]
The earth; earth.
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Terra alba [L., white earth] (Com.), a white amorphous
earthy substance consisting of burnt gypsum, aluminium
silicate (kaolin), or some similar ingredient, as
magnesia. It is sometimes used to adulterate certain
foods, spices, candies, paints, etc.
Terra cotta. [It., fr. terra earth + cotta, fem. of cotto
cooked, L. coctus, p. p. of coquere to cook. See Cook,
n.] Baked clay; a kind of hard pottery used for statues,
architectural decorations, figures, vases, and the like.
Terrae filius [L., son of the earth], formerly, one
appointed to write a satirical Latin poem at the public
acts in the University of Oxford; -- not unlike the
prevaricator at Cambridge, England.
Terra firma [L.], firm or solid earth, as opposed to
water.
Terra Japonica. [NL.] Same as Gambier. It was formerly
supposed to be a kind of earth from Japan.
Terra Lemnia [L., Lemnian earth], Lemnian earth. See under
Lemnian.
Terra ponderosa [L., ponderous earth] (Min.), barite, or
heavy spar.
Terra di Sienna. See Sienna.
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