Obs. [a. OFr. albeston, variant of abeston, asbeston, a. L. asbeston, acc. of ASBESTOS, q.v. (OFr. has also abestos). Albeston is perhaps due to fanciful association with alb-us white; in Eng. the termination was assimilated to stone, quasi ‘white-stone.’] = ASBESTOS.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. xi. (1495), 558. Of albestone … was made a candyll sticke, on whyche was a lantern so brennynge that it myght not be quenched wyth tempeste nother with reyne.
1567. Maplet, Greene Forest, 2. Albeston … being once set on fire, can neuer after be quenched.
