spermaceti
/spɜːməˈsetɪ/noun
mass noun
- a white waxy substance produced by the sperm whale, formerly used in candles and ointments. It is present in a rounded organ in the head, where it focuses acoustic signals and aids in the control of buoyancy.鲸蜡, 鲸脑油。
词源
late 15th cent.: from medieval Latin, from late Latin sperma 'sperm' + ceti 'of a whale' （genitive of cetus, from Greek kētos 'whale'）, from the belief that it was whale spawn.