alum

Alum (double sulphate of potassium and aluminum)

Meanings

An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (K₂SO₄·Al₂(SO₄)₃·24H₂O).
Any similar double sulphate in which either or both of the potassium and aluminium is wholly or partly replaced by other univalent or tervalent cations.
A past attendee or graduate (of either gender) of a college, university or other educational institution.

To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum.

From Middle English alum, alum, alym, alyme, from Anglo-Norman alum, alun, from Latin alūmen.
From alumnus and alumna (> alumn- > alum), by the removal of the originally Latin gender-specific nominative singular case endings -us (masculine) and -a (feminine).

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