Satin. This fine silk, originally imported from China, was first known in England in the 14th century. It is thicker than ordinary silk, and remarkable for its smooth glossy surface, not exhibiting the marks of the reticulations of the threads.
Satin-spar. An ornamental stone, having a soft satiny surface when polished.
Satin-wood. An ornamental yellow wood much used in cabinet-making.
Satinet. A thin kind of satin.
Saturn, Her. The black colour in the arms of sovereign princes.
Saturnalia, R. Festivals of Saturn, held on the seventh of the calends of January (14th of December), instituted by Numa. During the four or five days that this festival lasted, both public and private business was interrupted; and banquets and festivities were held, in which masters and slaves met on a temporary footing of equality. In the feasts at rustic places, the hollow statue of Saturn was filled with oil; he held a pruning knife in his hand, and his feet were surrounded with a band of wool.
Satyrs. Greek deities of the wooded plains, as the Roman fauns were of the fields. They are usually represented as the attendants of Bacchus, or the lovers of the Nymphs, with goat’s legs and horns, and human bodies covered with short hair; often with Lacinia on the neck.
Saunders’ Blue (Green) (from the French cendres’ bleu). The blue ashes of calcined lapis lazuli. (See Carbonates of Copper.)
Saurians. Animals of the lizard tribe, crocodiles, &c., antediluvian and other.
