[ad. L. ātrāmentum blacking, ink, f. *ātrā-re to blacken, f. āter black.] Blacking, ink; any similar black substance, as the ‘ink’ of the cuttle-fish.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. xxxiii. (1495), 879. Attrament is made of sote.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 195. Being in dainger, they [cuttle-fish] cast forth their atrament.
1678. R. Russell, Geber, I. iii. 8. There are divers Atraments and they are found of divers Colour.
1834. Allan, Min., 15. Atrament Stone … is a mixture of the sulphate and peroxide of iron … of a dark brick-red colour.
