a natural black viscous tar intermediate in properties between petroleum and asphalt
Also called: maltha
mineral tar in American English
maltha (sense 1)
mineral tar in American English
noun
bitumen of the consistency of tar; maltha
Word origin
[1790–1800]This word is first recorded in the period 1790–1800. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cutout, idealism, modular, standby, stereotype