[a. F. argille (mod. argile), ad. L. argilla (formerly in Eng. use), a. Gr. ἄργιλλος, f. ἄργής white, shining.] Clay, esp. potter’s clay. Also proposed as a name for alumina when the nature of that base was first discovered.
1530. Palsgr., 195/1. Argile a kynde of erthe, Argille.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physic, 318/2. Hard baked Argille or loame.
1675. Evelyn, Terra (1729), 20. I do not reckon Loam among the clays, though it seem to be but a succulent kind of Argilla.
1778. Woulfe, in Phil. Trans., LXIX. 20. The blue argilla from Paris. Ibid. (1792), LXXXII. 34. Argil precipitated from alum by an alkali.
1859. R. Burton, Africa, in Jrnl. R. G. S., XXIX. 158. Soil … yellow with argile.
1879. Spon, Workshop Rec., 42. Argillaceous clay or alumina clay … is called argil.
