{Fr., from L. ebur, ivory.] The hard, fine-grained substance of a fine white color obtained from the tusks and teeth of the elephant. The name is also given to the tusks and teeth of certain other animals, as the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, etc. The tusks of the African elephant yield the best ivory, on account of their superior density and whiteness. They are of all sizes, but the largest weigh from 180 to 200 lbs. Indian and Ceylon elephants also yield much ivory, but the ivory used by Russian ivory-workers is that of mammoths found buried in the soil of Northern Siberia. Ivory is used in the manufacture of knife-handles, billiard balls, chess-men, dice, fans, combs, paper-knives, napkin-rings, brooches, organ and pianoforte keys, etc. Great taste and skill are often shown in working ivory, and some of the carved boxes, ornaments, and toys made of it are very beautiful. The Chinese and Japanese are very skilful in carving ivory. Ivory obtained from the hippopotamus is very white, and not grained like that of the elephant, and is used by dentists for making artificial teeth.

Vegetable ivory is the nut of a palm-like tree which grows on the plains of Peru, and on the banks of many of the rivers of South America. The nuts, about the size of hens' eggs, are exceedingly hard and white when ripe, and resemble ivory so much that they are used in the manufacture of buttons, umbrella handles, and small trinkets.