Amber

n. [Sp. ămbar, and with the Ar. article alámbar, Pg. ambar, alambre, Pr. ambra, ambre, It. ambra, Fr. ambre, L. Lat. ambra, ambre, amber; ambar, ambare, ambra, excrement of fish; N. Lat. ambarum, M. H. Ger. amber, amer, N. H. Ger. ambra, amber; from Ar. 'anbar, anburum, a kind of perfume; orig. the name of a fish, from which, it was believed, the gray amber, or ambergris, came: afterward the word was principally applied to the yellow amber.] 1. (Min.) A yellowish resin resembling copal, found as a fossil in alluvial soils, with beds of lignite, or on the sea-shore in many places. It takes a fine polish, and is used for ornamental purposes, and as a basis for a fine varnish. By friction, it readily becomes electric. Dana.