Al"a*bas"ter (?), n. [L. alabaster,
Gr. ?, said to be derived fr. Alabastron, the name of a town in
Egypt, near which it was common: cf. OF. alabastre, F.
albâtre.] 1. (Min.) (a)
A compact variety or sulphate of lime, or gypsum, of fine texture, and
usually white and translucent, but sometimes yellow, red, or gray. It is
carved into vases, mantel ornaments, etc. (b) A
hard, compact variety of carbonate of lime, somewhat translucent, or of
banded shades of color; stalagmite. The name is used in this sense by
Pliny. It is sometimes distinguished as oriental
alabaster.
2. A box or vessel for holding odoriferous
ointments, etc.; -- so called from the stone of which it was originally
made. Fosbroke.