Carborundum can be in both states.
It is a pseudo latin phrase (usually "nil bastardum carborundum" - but probably more correctly "illegitimi nil carborundum"?) meaning - don't let the bastards grind you down...
Illegitimi non carborundum
The cast of Nil Carborundum - 1962 includes: Graham Crowden John Thaw
It's emery.
This compound is the silicon carbide, SiC.
# A decorative crystals sapphires # As an abrasive carborundum.
A silicon carbide quandary -- a carborundum conundrum
Illegitimi non carborundum is nonsense. It pretends to mean "Don't let the bastards wear you down." Mixing up fake Latin from English words for comic effect is called "macaronics."
Don't let the bastards get you down! (Pigeon Latin)
near ryhyme - "un-dim"Carborundum (Trademark) corundum
Bertrand Bellemare has written: 'Arbitration sentence and the report written on the occasion of the arbitration between the Canadian Carborundum Co., ltd., of Shawinigan Falls and the National Syndicate of Carborundum Employees of Shawinigan Falls, inc' -- subject(s): Arbitration, Industrial, Cases, Fatigue, Industrial Arbitration, National Syndicate of Carborundum Employees of Shawinigan Falls, inc, Que Falls