bone black

noun

: the black residue chiefly of tribasic calcium phosphate and carbon from bones calcined in closed vessels used especially as a pigment or as a decolorizing adsorbent in sugar manufacturing

called also bone char

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1735, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bone black

noun

: the black chiefly carbon matter that is left from bones heated in a closed container and is used especially as a pigment or a material to remove color from other things