obsidian Hear it!

obsidian definition

ob·sid·ian (əb sid′ē ən)

noun

a hard, usually dark-colored or black volcanic glass with conchoidal fracture, often used as a gem

Etymology: ModL obsidianus < L Obsidianus (lapis), a faulty reading in Pliny (altered by assoc. with L obsidium, a siege < obsidere: see obsess) for Obsianus (lapis), stone of Obsius, finder of a similar stone in Ethiopia

Comments


Do you have more to add? Sign in to share your linguistic knowledge or observation.

Connect with Facebook