Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - alabaster

 geographical name city central Alabama S of Birmingham population 22,619 ALABASTER  noun  Etymology: Middle English alabastre, from Anglo-French albastre, from Latin ~ vase of ~, from Greek alabastros  Date: 14th century  1. a compact fine-textured usually white and translucent gypsum often carved into vases and ornaments  2. a hard compact calcite or aragonite that is translucent and sometimes banded  • ~ or alabastrine adjective