Part 165

Al*bi"ness (&?;), n. A female albino. Holmes.

Al"bi*nism (&?;), n. The state or condition of being an albino: abinoism; leucopathy.

Al`bi*nis"tic (&?;), a. Affected with albinism.

Al*bi"no (?; 277), n.; pl. Albinos (&?;). [Sp. or Pg. albino, orig. whitish, fr. albo white, L. albus.] A person, whether negro, Indian, or white, in whom by some defect of organization the substance which gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes is deficient or in a morbid state. An albino has a skin of a milky hue, with hair of the same color, and eyes with deep red pupil and pink or blue iris. The term is also used of the lower animals, as white mice, elephants, etc.; and of plants in a whitish condition from the absence of chlorophyll. Amer. Cyc.

The term was originally applied by the Portuguese to negroes met with on the coast of Africa, who were mottled with white spots.

Al*bi"no*ism (&?;), n. The state or condition of being an albino; albinism.

Al`bi*not"ic (&?;), a. Affected with albinism.

Al"bi*on (&?;), n. [Prob. from the same root as Gael. alp a height or hill. "It may have been bestowed on the land lying behind the white cliffs visible from the coast of Gaul. Albany, the old name of Scotland, means probably the "hilly land." I. Taylor.] An ancient name of England, still retained in poetry.

In that nook-shotten isle of Albion. Shak.

Al"bite (&?;), n. [L. albus white.] (Min.) A mineral of the feldspar family, triclinic in crystallization, and in composition a silicate of alumina and soda. It is a common constituent of granite and of various igneous rocks. See Feldspar.

Al"bo*lith (&?;), n. [L. albus white + -lith.] A kind of plastic cement, or artificial stone, consisting chiefly of magnesia and silica; -- called also albolite.

||Al"bo*rak (?; 277), n. [Ar. al- burq, fr. baraqa to flash, shine.] The imaginary milk-white animal on which Mohammed was said to have been carried up to heaven; a white mule.

Al`bu*gin"e*ous (&?;), a. [See Albugo.] Of the nature of, or resembling, the white of the eye, or of an egg; albuminous; -- a term applied to textures, humors, etc., which are perfectly white.

||Al*bu"go (&?;), n.; pl. Albugines (&?;). [L., whiteness, fr. albus white.] (Med.) Same as Leucoma.

Al"bum (&?;), n. [L., neut. of albus white: cf. F. album. Cf. Alb.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) A white tablet on which anything was inscribed, as a list of names, etc.

2. A register for visitors' names; a visitors' book.

3. A blank book, in which to insert autographs sketches, memorial writing of friends, photographs, etc.

Al*bu"men (&?;), n. [L., fr. albus white.] 1. The white of an egg.

2. (Bot.) Nourishing matter stored up within the integuments of the seed in many plants, but not incorporated in the embryo. It is the floury part in corn, wheat, and like grains, the oily part in poppy seeds, the fleshy part in the cocoanut, etc.

3. (Chem.) Same as Albumin.

Al*bu"men*ize (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Albumenized (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Albumenizing.] To cover or saturate with albumen; to coat or treat with an albuminous solution; as, to albumenize paper.

||Al"bum Græ"cum (&?;). [L., Greek white.] Dung of dogs or hyenas, which becomes white by exposure to air. It is used in dressing leather, and was formerly used in medicine.

Al*bu"min (&?;), n. (Chem.) A thick, viscous nitrogenous substance, which is the chief and characteristic constituent of white of eggs and of the serum of blood, and is found in other animal substances, both fluid and solid, also in many plants. It is soluble in water and is coagulated by heat and by certain chemical reagents.

Acid albumin, a modification of albumin produced by the action of dilute acids. It is not coagulated by heat. -- Alkali albumin, albumin as modified by the action of alkaline substances; -- called also albuminate.

Al*bu"mi*nate (&?;), n. (Chem.) A substance produced by the action of an alkali upon albumin, and resembling casein in its properties; also, a compound formed by the union of albumin with another substance.

Al*bu`mi*nif"er*ous (&?;), a. [L. albumen + -ferous.] Supplying albumen.

Al*bu`mi*nim"e*ter (&?;), n. [L. albumen, albuminis + -meter: cf. F. albuminimètre.] An instrument for ascertaining the quantity of albumen in a liquid.

Al*bu"mi*nin (&?;), n. (Chem.) The substance of the cells which inclose the white of birds' eggs.