'Terra Japonica' definitions:

Definition of 'Terra Japonica'

From: GCIDE
  • Terra \Ter"ra\, n. [It. & L. See Terrace.] The earth; earth. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Terra Japonica'

From: GCIDE
  • Gambier \Gam"bier\, n. [Malayan.] (a) The inspissated juice of a plant (Uncaria Gambir) growing in Malacca. It is a powerful astringent, and, under the name of Terra Japonica, is used for chewing with the Areca nut, and is exported for tanning and dyeing. (b) Catechu. [Written also gambeer and gambir.] [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'terra japonica'

From: GCIDE
  • Catechu \Cat"e*chu\, n. [See Cashoo.] (Chem.) A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc. --Ure. --Dunglison. [1913 Webster]