| Show word excelsior adopted from latin Excel excelsa Ex celsus su sa how the term excelsior came to be applied to long fine wood shavings used as a packing material for eggs and other breakable objects Is not known for certain it is a purely american term and apparently originated as a trade name undoubtedly it Is the same word as the comparative degree of the latin ex celsus which means elevated thus excelsior the title of a well known poem by henry wadsworth longfellow means still higher more lofty or ever up upward ward now new york state adopted the word as its motto aspen cottonwood basswood willow red gum spruce and certain pines are the favorite favorit woods used in the manufacture of excelsior or wood wool as it Is also called the logs are first cut into blocks about 18 inches in length aad the fibers ahre separated from the blocks by knife points A cord of wood produces produce about 2000 pounds of excelsior |
