| calamine | Zinc oxide with a small amount of ferric oxide or basic zinc carbonate suitably coloured with ferric oxide; used in dusting powders, lotions, and ointments, as a mild astringent and protective agent for skin disorders. Origin: Mediev. L. Calamina, fr. L. Cadmia, fr. G. Kadmia, Theban (earth), fr. Kadmos, founder of Thebes (05 Mar 2000) |
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| lapsus calami | <zoology> A slip of the pen, an unintentional error, especially in spelling taxonomic names. (09 Jan 1998) |
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