fusain
[ fyoo-zeyn, fyoo-zeyn; French fy-zan ]
/ fyuˈzeɪn, ˈfyu zeɪn; French füˈzɛ̃ /
noun, plural fu·sains [fyoo-zeynz, fyoo-zeynz; French fy-zan] /fyuˈzeɪnz, ˈfyu zeɪnz; French füˈzɛ̃/ for 2.
a fine charcoal used in drawing, made from the wood of the spindle tree.
a drawing made with this charcoal.
a blackish-gray, friable component of coal with a silky luster that leaves a charcoallike mark.
Origin of fusain
1865–70; < French: spindle tree, charcoal made from its wood < Vulgar Latin
*fūsāgīn- (stem of
*fūsāgō), derivative of Latin
fūsus spindle
Words nearby fusain
furunculoid,
furunculosis,
furunculus,
fury,
furze,
fusain,
fusan,
fusarium,
fusarium wilt,
fuscous,
fuse
British Dictionary definitions for fusain
fusain
/ (fjuːˈzeɪn, French fyzɛ̃) /
noun
a fine charcoal pencil or stick made from the spindle tree
a drawing done with such a pencil
a dull black brittle form of carbon resembling charcoal, found in certain coals
Word Origin for fusain
C19: from French: spindle tree or charcoal made from it, from Vulgar Latin
fūsāgō (unattested) a spindle (generally made from the spindle tree), from Latin
fūsus