Not P but Moby-Dick (52)

[Ian Livingston]

Wikipedia notes the English word appears to have come from the Dutch “huizenblaas” c. 18th century trade, referring the substance amply described above, derived from sturgeon. 

The mica application came later, presumably via geologists or other related rockheads. As an old ex-mountaineer, my association went quickly the rockheaded interpretation. Happy to be reeducated. 

Thanks, all. 


Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 10, 2023, at 9:36 AM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Mica is a very thinly layered rock that can be peeled off in translucent
> solid SHEETS (which might be what this whale stuff resembles after it dies
> out in its solid state].
> 
> But to translate the English word “insinglass” as mica because mica
> resembles insinglass seems like the highest form of circular logic
> --
> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l