trass

American  

[tras] / træs /

noun

1. a light-colored type of volcanic tuff used in making water-resistant cement and mortar.

---

trass British  

/ træs /

noun

1. a variety of the volcanic rock tuff, used to make a hydraulic cement

---

Etymology

Origin of trass

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Dutch trass, from earlier terass, tieras, tiras “brick dust, rubbish,” from French terrasse; see terrace ( def. )

Example Sentences

While I am on the subject of volcanic phenomena, I may as well add a word on the origin of the trass or tufa, which is so thickly spread over this country.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 12, No. 326, August 9, 1828 by Various

Forests might be torn up by such a flood, and thus the occurrence of the numerous trunks of trees dispersed irregularly through the trass can be explained.

From The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

If, as is probable, this trass was formed during the period of volcanic eruptions, it may have originated in the manner of the moya of the Andes.

From The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

The idea of the trass having any connexion with a deluge, is, I believe, now exploded; and geologists have agreed that it is the actual substance ejected by the volcano, subsided into a firm paste.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 12, No. 326, August 9, 1828 by Various

You must not suppose the stream to be clear like the Aar, for it is as thick as pea-soup, and about the same colour, being in fact a river of trass in solution.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 12, No. 326, August 9, 1828 by Various