obsidian
UK /ˌɒbˈsɪd.i.ən/ · US /əbˈsɪd.i.ən/ noun, adjective
Forms obsidians
- noun (mineralogy) A type of naturally occurring black glass produced by volcanoes.
- noun A slightly bluish black, the color of obsidian glass.
- adjective (poetic) Black.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin obsidianus; named after Obsidius, who was, according to Pliny, the Roman who discovered the stone in Aethiopia.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A kind of glass produced by volcanoes. It is usually of a black color, and opaque, except in thin splinters.
Etymology [L. Obsidianus lapis, so named, according to Pliny, after one Obsidius, who discovered it in Ethiopia: cf.F. obsidiane, obsidienne. The later editions of Pliny read Obsianus lapis, and Obsius, instead of Obsidianus lapis, and Obsidius.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “obsidian”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details