Clastic
/ˈklæs.tɪk/noun
Relating to broken fragments of rock or sediment made of preexisting pieces.
Did you know?Its root is the Greek verb *klan* / *klazein*, tied to breaking and shattering, the same ancient idea behind words for fragments, classes, and even the body’s own divisions.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
klastikos
“able to break; pertaining to fragments or broken pieces”
Late Latin
Latin
clasticus
“broken into pieces; fragmentary”
18th Century
English
clastic
“made of fragments, especially in geology”
Modern English
English
clastic
“composed of broken fragments or detritus”
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