Also 5–6 terre sigillate, 6 terra sygyllata. [med.L., ‘sealed earth’: so F. terre seellée (Cotgr.), terre sigillée (Littré), It. terra sigillata (Florio), G. siegelerde. For the reason of the name, see quot. 1802.]
1. An astringent bole, of fatty consistence and reddish color, obtained from Lemnos; formerly esteemed as a medicine and antidote; sphragide; known also as † sealed earth (SEALED ppl. a. 1 d), sigillate earth, Lemnian earth, TERRA LEMNIA. Also applied to similar earths found elsewhere.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. xcvii. (Bodl. MS.). A Certeyn veyne of erþe is icleped Terra sigillata, and is singulerliche colde and druy.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 61. Take þe pouder of crabbis brent vj. parties, gencian .iij parties, terre sigillate oon partie, make poudre.
c. 1550. Lloyd, Treas. Health, H ij. Take one parte of Terrasygyllata, and an other of the gumme called Sarasenicum.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 97. The soueraigne minerall against infections, called Terra Lemnia, or Sigillata.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, II. 59. Germany is famous for that sort of earth, seldom found any where else, called Terra sigillata.
1802. Brookes’ Gazetteer (ed. 12), s.v. Lemnos, This earth [of Lemnos] … is called Terra Sigillata, being formed into small loaves sealed with the grand signior’s seal, and thus dispersed over various parts of Europe.
† 2. Red pigment; ruddle. Obs.
1563. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., II. 27 b. Terrasigillata or ruddle.
1608. Capt. Smith, True Relat., 35. Two Indians, each with a cudgell, and all newly painted with Terrasigillata, came circling about me as though they would have clubed me like a hare.
