bauxite
/ˈbɔːksaɪt/ noun
Forms bauxites
- noun The principal ore of aluminium; a clay-like mineral, being a mixture of hydrated oxides and hydroxides.
Etymology
Derived from the name of Les Baux in France, plus + -ite. The /ks/ in the English pronunciation is from a spelling pronunciation.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A ferruginous hydrate of alumina. It is largely used in the preparation of aluminium and alumina, and for the lining of furnaces which are exposed to intense heat.
Etymology [F., fr. Baux or Beaux, near Arles.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “bauxite”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details