Clay, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Clayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Claying.] 1. To cover or manure with
clay.
2. To clarify by filtering through clay,
as sugar.
Clay (klā), n. [AS.
clǣg; akin to LG. klei, D. klei, and
perh. to AS. clām clay, L. glus,
gluten glue, Gr. gloio`s glutinous substance,
E. glue. Cf. Clog.] 1. A soft
earth, which is plastic, or may be molded with the hands,
consisting of hydrous silicate of aluminium. It is the result of
the wearing down and decomposition, in part, of rocks containing
aluminous minerals, as granite. Lime, magnesia, oxide of iron,
and other ingredients, are often present as impurities.
2. (Poetry & Script.) Earth in
general, as representing the elementary particles of the human
body; hence, the human body as formed from such
particles.
I also am formed out of the clay.
Job xxxiii. 6.
The earth is covered thick with other
clay,
Which her own clay shall cover.
Byron.
Bowlder clay. See under
Bowlder. -- Brick clay, the
common clay, containing some iron, and therefore turning red when
burned. -- Clay cold, cold as clay or
earth; lifeless; inanimate. -- Clay
ironstone, an ore of iron consisting of the oxide
or carbonate of iron mixed with clay or sand. --
Clay marl, a whitish, smooth, chalky
clay. -- Clay mill, a mill for mixing
and tempering clay; a pug mill. -- Clay
pit, a pit where clay is dug. -- Clay
slate (Min.), argillaceous schist;
argillite. -- Fatty clays, clays
having a greasy feel; they are chemical compounds of water,
silica, and aluminia, as halloysite, bole,
etc. -- Fire clay , a variety of clay,
entirely free from lime, iron, or an alkali, and therefore
infusible, and used for fire brick. -- Porcelain
clay, a very pure variety, formed directly from the
decomposition of feldspar, and often called kaolin. -
- Potter's clay, a tolerably pure kind,
free from iron.