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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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