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Black-lead


BLACK'-LEAD, noun A mineral of a dark steel-gray color, and of a scaly texture, composed of carbon, with a small portion of iron. This name, black-lead is improper, as it contains no lead. It is called plumbago, and technically graphite, as it is used for pencils.

BLACK'-LEGS, noun In some parts of England, a disease among calves and sheep. It is a sort of jelly which settles in the legs and sometimes in the neck.