Tuesday word: Glair

[simplyn2deep]

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Glair (noun, verb)
glair Or glaire [glair]

noun
1. the white of an egg.
2. a glaze or size made of egg white.
3. any viscous substance like egg white.

verb (used with object)
4. to coat with glair.

Other Word Forms
glairy adjective
glairiness noun

Origin: 1300–50; Middle English glaire < Old French: white of an egg < Vulgar Latin *clāria; compare Latin clārus clear

Example Sentences
If the gold should be injured in any way, the press must be tilted so as to allow a little glair to run under the gold to the spot and then a larger piece is laid over the faulty place.
From Project Gutenberg

One end is carefully lowered until the glair has run to one side and dripped off.
From Project Gutenberg

Slight flaws in the gold itself, or due to bubbles in the glair, may be put right by touching the faulty places with a small brush dipped in rectified spirit and immediately laying on a piece of gold; if the edges had not yet been gone over with the waxed rag, it would be sufficient to breathe on the place, lay on the gold, and burnish under paper.
From Project Gutenberg

Take care that no glair runs on to the fore-edge when applying it or when draining it off.
From Project Gutenberg

Then plenty of glair is applied and the gold quickly and truly laid on.
From Project Gutenberg

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Interesting. I did not know this one. Thank you for sharing!

[house_wren]

Oh! I just learned how to make glair and use it as a glaze. After it's burnished it makes a shiny surface. In the class I took we used ink and gouache to paint on it.

[prettygoodword]

Huh -- I've only heard it for an egg-white glaze, not the egg whites themselves. Interesting.