ferruginous

[ fuh-roo-juh-nuhs ]

adjective

1. Geology. iron-bearing:

   ferruginous clays.

2. of the color of iron rust.

ferruginous

/ fɛˈruːdʒɪnəs /

adjective

1. (of minerals, rocks, etc) containing iron

   a ferruginous clay

2. rust-coloured

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferruginous¹

1655–65; < Latin ferrūginus rust-colored, derivative of ferrūgin-, stem of ferrūgō iron-rust, derivative of ferrum iron; -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferruginous¹

C17: from Latin ferrūgineus of a rusty colour, from ferrūgō iron rust, from ferrum iron

Example Sentences

A concretion of rounded quartz pebbles, cemented by ferruginous matter, apparently of recent formation.

From Project Gutenberg

Ferruginous masses, probably consisting of brown hematite, come also from this island.

From Project Gutenberg

He taught him how to clean letterpress and engravings from ferruginous, fungous, and other kinds of spots.

From Project Gutenberg

The boulders were all weathered a bright red and were much pitted where ferruginous minerals were leached out.

From Project Gutenberg

From nose to tail it measures about eighteen inches, and its general colour is a pale ferruginous brown, mixed with gray.

From Project Gutenberg