Ambergrises

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A waxy substance produced in the intestines of sperm whales, used in perfume-making and often found floating in the ocean
2. A solid, fragrant material derived from a whale's digestive secretions, valued for its ability to enhance fragrances in scents
3. An organic compound originating from sperm whale excretions, prized for its unique aroma and employed in high-end perfumery

Etymology: "Ambergrises" is simply the plural of "ambergris", so the story belongs to the singular. The name comes from Old French "ambre gris", meaning "grey amber", and the two words were at first written separately. Single-word spellings predominated by the 19th century. In the 17th century, people tried to make sense of the name by reinterpreting it. Some read it as "amber grease", as if it were a fatty substance, and others as "amber of Greece", linking it to a place. Neither reading is the true origin, but both were popular enough to be recorded, and they show how an unfamiliar word gets reshaped by speakers who already know other words.

Synonyms: ambergris, whale vomit