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megalith

[meg-uh-lith]

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noun

a stone of great size, especially in ancient construction work, as the Cyclopean masonry, or in prehistoric Neolithic remains, as dolmens or menhirs.

Origin of megalith

First recorded in 1850–55; mega- + -lith

Related formsmeg·a·lith·ic, adjectivepre·meg·a·lith·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for megalithic

Historical Examples of megalithic

The megalithic constructions do not all date back to the same epoch.
Primitive Man
Louis Figuier
He could hardly, however, have built a megalithic work of this kind.
Inca Land
Hiram Bingham
Yet, Shang culture cannot well be called a "megalithic" culture.
A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.]
Wolfram Eberhard
The megalithic chambers within the mound are of three types.
Rough Stone Monuments and Their Builders
T. Eric Peet
Such a custom is not unknown in other parts of the megalithic area.
Rough Stone Monuments and Their Builders
T. Eric Peet

British Dictionary definitions for megalithic

megalith

noun

a stone of great size, esp one forming part of a prehistoric monumentSee also alignment (def. 6), circle (def. 11)

Derived Formsmegalithic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for megalithic

adj.

1836, from mega- "large" + lithos "stone" (see litho-) + -ic.

megalith

n.

huge prehistoric stone, 1853, back-formation from megalithic.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper