Definition of "alabaster"

Why ſhould a man whoſe bloud is warme within,Sit like his Grandſire, cut in Alabaſter?

c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i], page 163, lines 89–90

Nor was the flame dissevered from its ribbonBut like a radiant fillet ran alongSo that fire seemed it behind alabaster.

1867, Dante Alghieri, “Paradiso”, in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, transl., The Divine Comedy‎, Canto XV, lines 22–23

One of the striking relics found at the tomb, was a Canopic portrait head of Queen Tii, made entirely of alabaster except the eyes and eyebrows, which were inlaid lapis lazuli and osidian.

1915 May 15, “Egyptian Antiquities for Metropolitan”, in The New York Times‎ (PDF), archived from the original on 2015-09-14

And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Mark 14:3

An enameled miniature of Christ is set in the center of a jeweled alabaster paten, the plate that holds the bread during Communion services.

1980, Colin Thubron, Seafarers: The Venetians, page 41

With more than admiration he admir’dHer azure veins, her alabaster skin,Her coral lips, her snow-white dimpled chin.

1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], lines 418-420

Safe in their alabaster chambersUntouched by morning, untouched by noonSleep the meek members of the resurrection,Rafters of satin, and roof of stone.

a. 1887 (date written), Emily Dickinson, “[Book IV.—Time and Eternity] Safe in Their Alabaster Chambers”, in Mabel Loomis Todd and T[homas] W[entworth] Higginson, editors, Poems, First Series, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, published 1890, page 113

Thine alabaster cities gleamUndimmed by human tears!

1895, “America the Beautiful”, Katharine Lee Bates (lyrics), Samuel A. Ward (music)