muscovite
/ˈmʌs.kəˌvaɪt/ noun, adjective
Forms muscovites
- noun (mineralogy) A pale brown mineral of the mica group, being a basic potassium aluminosilicate with the chemical formula KAl₂(Si₃Al)O₁₀(OH,F)₂; used as an electrical insulator etc.
- noun An inhabitant or native of Muscovy or Moscow.
- noun (archaic, by extension) A Russian.
- adjective Of or relating to Muscovy or Moscow, or the people of these places.
- adjective Russian.
Etymology
In 1850 from Muscovy glass + -ite, from the province Muscovy in Russia. Named by James Dwight Dana.
1535. From Latin Moscovita (“resident of Moscow or Muscovy, Russian”), also Muscovita, Moschovita, from Moscovia or Muscovia (“Muscovy”) + -ita.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A native or inhabitant of Muscovy or ancient Russia; hence, a Russian.
- noun Common potash mica. See Mica.
Etymology [See Muscovy glass.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “muscovite”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details