1. Of material substances: That is of the nature of earth or soil; having the characteristic properties of earth; resembling earth in some specific property. Of minerals: Without luster, friable, and rough to the touch; also, containing impurities of the nature of earth, as in Earthy Cobalt, Hæmatite, Manganese, etc.
1667. Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual., 260 The Earthy powder, I obtain’d from already distill’d Rain water.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, I. (1723), 50 (J.). All Water … being … stored with this, it being light in comparison of the common mineral earthy Matter.
1797. M. Baillie, Morb. Anat. (1807), 284. The kidneys have been said to be converted into an earthy substance.
1843. Portlock, Geol., 225. Earthy Hæmatite is found at Bardahessigh.
1846. J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric., II. 293. An excess of vegetable matter is … to be remedied by the application of earthy materials.
1863–82. Watts, Dict. Chem., III. 814. Earthy Cobalt is a wad in which oxide of cobalt sometimes occurs to the amount of 33 per cent.
1877. Green, Phys. Geol., ii. § 5. 46. Crystalline rocks occasionally put on a loose friable form and are then said to be earthy.
b. Of qualities, etc.: Characteristic of earth. So earthy taste, smell, colo(u)r. Earthy fracture: see quot. 1817.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., II. ix. (Arb.), 131. The skyn is of earthy coloure.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 387. 103. All Sweet Smells haue ioyned with them, some Earthy or Crude Odours.
1817. R. Jameson, Char. Min., 235. When the fracture surface shews a great number of very small elevations and depressions, which make it appear rough, it is called earthy.
1839. T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 508. An earthy fracture.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxxv. 133. The crispness of the raw onion, with the earthy taste.
c. Consisting of earth (said of the ground; cf. sandy), or of material resembling earth. Said fig. of the human body, esp. of a dead body.
a. 1586. Sidney, Ps. xcvi. Starry roofe, and earthy floore.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., IV. i. 219. And soone lye Richard in an Earthie Pit. Ibid. (1593), 2 Hen. VI., III. ii. 147. His dead and earthy Image.
a. 1652. J. Smith, Sel. Disc., viii. 380. The soul must be wholly dissolved from this earthy body in which it is so deeply immersed.
1854. Hooker, Himal. Jrnls., I. ii. 46. The … egg-like earthy chrysalis of the Sphynx Atropos.
¶ humorously.
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz (1877), 69. A damp earthy child.
† 2. Having the properties of the ‘element’ earth, as distinguished from those of fire, air or water; heavy, gross. So earthy vapour. Obs.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 390. 104. When they [flowers] are Crushed, the Grosser and more Earthy Spirit commeth out with the Finer, and troubleth it.
1641. Wilkins, Math. Magick, II. ii. (1648), 242 (L.). Lamps … were then first enflamed by the admission of new air,… when the sepulchres were opened: as we see in those fat earthy vapours.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. iii. 76. The Clouds are attracted out of moist and watry, and also earthy Vapours.
b. fig. Grossly material, coarse, dull, unrefined. Sometimes with mixture of 1.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 65. But as for the sense of touching, it is most earthy of all the rest.
1610. Shaks., Temp., I. ii. 273. And for thou wast a Spirit too delicate To act her earthy, and abhord commands.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. ii. (1669), 195. Men whom in discourse he was wont to undervalue, as being far more Earthy than himself.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, xiv. Literature, Wks. (Bohn), II. 103. They [the English] delight in strong earthy expressions … coarsely true to the human body.
1868. Nettleship, Browning, ii. 74. The dumb striving of a humanity prisoned in too earthy a chamber.
3. Chem. Pertaining to the class of substances technically called ‘earths,’ or to one of those substances; in mod. use, pertaining to the class of metallic oxides so designated. † Also quasi-sb.
1718. Quincy, Compl. Disp., 10. The Particles of Sal Alcali do consist of earthy and acid united together.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 135. Bodies have been divided into six classes, saline, inflammable, metallic, earthy, watery, and aerial.
1805. W. Saunders, Min. Waters, 40. Sulphat of Lime…. This is one of the commonest of all the earthy salts that are found in natural springs.
1809. Med. Jrnl., XXI. 475. Earthy carbonates.
1863–82. Watts, Dict. Chem., II. 360. Baryta, strontia, and lime … are sometimes designated earthy alkalis.
1883. Syd. Soc. Lex., Eastbourne. There is an earthy spring here of little moment.
4. Pertaining to the ground, or to what is below the ground; dwelling inside the earth; resembling a place underground.
1665. Dryden, Indian Emp., II. i. Wks. (1821), II. 313. Those earthy spirits black and envious are.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., II. 115. Beneath the earthy surface of the globe, we shall be able to trace its levelling and its dreadful energy.
1848. Dickens, Dombey (C. D. ed.), 36. Little Paul might have asked with Hamlet ‘into my grave?’ so chill and earthy was the place.
† 5. Pertaining to the earth in its geographical or astronomical aspect. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIII. v. (1495), 443. The ryuer Gyon hyghte Nilus … and is callyd the joynynge of the erthe, other erthy.
1640. Wilkins, New Planet, II. (1684), 115. The gravity and magnitude of this Earthy Globe, do make it altogether unfit for so swift a Motion.
1721–1800. Bailey, Earthy Triplicity [in Astrology], the Signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
6. Dwelling or existing on the earth; characteristic of earthly as opposed to heavenly existence. Now only with a mixture of sense 1, 1 c, or 2 b, as in the Biblical phrase of the earth, earthy. Hence comb., earthy-minded.
1595. Shaks., John, III. i. 147. What earthie name to Interrogatories, Can task the free breath of a sacred King?
1609. Chapman, End of Learn., in Farr’s S. P. (1848), 253. Let a scholar all earthy volumes carrie, He will be but a walking dicionarie. Ibid. (1615), Odyss., VII. 290. The impious race Of earthy giants, that would heaven outface.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Gen. Poems (1677), 167. O that in this case we were Earthy-minded.
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 583. If Spirit of other sort … have oreleapt these earthie bounds.
1682. Norris, Hierocles, 19. As apt to dwell and converse upon the Earth, and inform earthy bodies.
1829. H. Neele, Lit. Rem., 45. The latter [Shakspeare] is of the earth, earthy.
1869. Sat. Rev., 13 Feb., 219. The … muse Urania is almost his only patroness; from her eight earthier sisters he gets hardly any assistance.
