amiantus
/ˌæmiˈæntəs/
noun
- A fine, silky, fibrous mineral that can be woven into fire-resistant cloth; a type of asbestos.
- Ancient Romans used amiantus to make tablecloths that could be cleaned by throwing them into the fire.
- Miners once extracted amiantus from the mountains for its heat-resistant properties.
- The museum displayed a piece of cloth woven from amiantus, still intact after centuries.
Synonyms