testaceous

comparative more testaceous · superlative most testaceous

1. obsoletePertaining to earthenware or baked clay.

   [T]hey were burnt, or only baked in Oven or Sunne: According to the ancient way, in many bricks, tiles, pots, and testaceous works […]

   1658, Thomas Browne, “(please specify the page)”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC

2. Having a shell, especially one which is not articulated.

   The mollusca, and testaceous animals in particular, have been considered to be of potency in an amatory sense.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 157

   3 more examples

   It has a very large head, in proportion to its body, all covered with a shell, like other testaceous Animals […]

   1665, R[obert] Hooke, Micrographia: Or Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses. […], London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC

   Tyrian garbs, / Neptunian Albion's high teſtaceous food [i.e., oysters], / And flavour'd Chian wines with incenſe fum'd / To ſlake Patrician thirſt: for theſe, their rights / In the vile ſtreets they proſtitute to ſale; / Their ancient rights, their dignities, their laws, / Their native glorious freedom.

   1740, John Dyer, “The Ruins of Rome. A Poem.”, in Poems. … Viz. I. Grongar Hill. II. The Ruins of Rome. III. The Fleece, in Four Books, London: Printed by John Hughs, for Messrs. R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley, […], published 1759, →OCLC, pages 42–43

   The Ship-VVorm of Jamaica. This inſect is extremely deſtructive to all the ſhips that anchor for any time in the harbours of Jamaica, or in any other part vvithin the tropics: They cut vvith great facility through the planks, and burrovv a conſiderable vvay in the ſubſtance of them, incruſtating the ſides of all their holes vvith a ſmooth teſtaceous ſubſtance[…].

   1756, Patrick Browne, “Of Insects”, in The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica. […], London: […] T[homas] Osborne, and J. Shipton, […], →OCLC, part II, book III, class I, section II, order IV, page 395

3. Of a dull orange or brownish colour, like brick.