novaculite

[ noh-vak-yuh-lahyt ]

noun

, Petrology.

1. a very hard sedimentary rock, similar to chert, composed essentially of microcrystalline quartz.

novaculite

/ nəʊˈvækjʊˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a fine-grained dense hard rock containing quartz and feldspar: used as a whetstone

Word History and Origins

Origin of novaculite¹

1790–1800; < Latin novācul ( a ) a sharp knife, razor + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of novaculite¹

C18: from Latin novācula sharp knife, razor, from novāre to renew

Example Sentences

The finest of the novaculite rocks of central Arkansas are quarried near the city.

From Project Gutenberg