n. [ AS. cl&aemacr_;g; akin to LG. klei, D. klei, and perh. to AS. clām clay, L. glus, gluten glue, Gr. gloio`s glutinous substance, E. glue. Cf. Clog. ] 1. A soft earth, which is plastic, or may be molded with the hands, consisting of hydrous silicate of aluminium. It is the result of the wearing down and decomposition, in part, of rocks containing aluminous minerals, as granite. Lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, and other ingredients, are often present as impurities. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Poetry & Script.) Earth in general, as representing the elementary particles of the human body; hence, the human body as formed from such particles. [ 1913 Webster ]

I also am formed out of the clay. Job xxxiii. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earth is covered thick with other clay,
Which her own clay shall cover. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bowlder clay. See under Bowlder. --
Brick clay, the common clay, containing some iron, and therefore turning red when burned. --
Clay cold, cold as clay or earth; lifeless; inanimate. --
Clay ironstone, an ore of iron consisting of the oxide or carbonate of iron mixed with clay or sand. --
Clay marl, a whitish, smooth, chalky clay. --
Clay mill, a mill for mixing and tempering clay; a pug mill. --
Clay pit, a pit where clay is dug. --
Clay slate (Min.), argillaceous schist; argillite. --
Fatty clays, clays having a greasy feel; they are chemical compounds of water, silica, and aluminia, as halloysite, bole, etc. --
Fire clay , a variety of clay, entirely free from lime, iron, or an alkali, and therefore infusible, and used for fire brick. --
Porcelain clay, a very pure variety, formed directly from the decomposition of feldspar, and often called kaolin. --
Potter's clay, a tolerably pure kind, free from iron. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Clayed p. pr. & vb. n. Claying. ] 1. To cover or manure with clay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To clarify by filtering through clay, as sugar. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stupid. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ F. claie hurdle. ] (Fort.) Wattles, or hurdles, made with stakes interwoven with osiers, to cover lodgments. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consisting of clay; abounding with clay; partaking of clay; like clay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Partaking of the nature of clay, or containing particles of it. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gael. claidheamhmor a broadsword; Gael. claidheamh sword + mor great, large. Cf. Glaymore. ] A large two-handed sword used formerly by the Scottish Highlanders. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mil.) an antipersonnel land mine designed to produce a high-velocity spray of steel fragments in a relatively narrow fan-shaped cone, directed toward the enemy. They are usually detonated by an electrical remote control. [ PJC ]

‖prop. n. [ Named after Dr. John Clayton, an American botanist. ] (Bot.) An American genus of perennial herbs with delicate blossoms; -- sometimes called spring beauty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Objects made from clay and baked in a kiln.
Syn. -- pottery. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a heat-resistant clay. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. 1. To whiten or clean with pipe clay, as a soldier's accouterments. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To clear off; as, to pipeclay accounts. [ Slang, Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A plastic, unctuous clay of a grayish white color, -- used in making tobacco pipes and various kinds of earthenware, in scouring cloth, and in cleansing soldiers' equipments. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Geol.) A stratum of clay lying beneath a coal bed, often containing the roots of coal plants, especially the Stigmaria. [ 1913 Webster ]