Eluvial
/ɪˈluː.vi.əl/noun
Relating to soil or geological material from which soluble substances have been removed by water.
Did you know?Eluvial material is formed in place as water leaches substances away, while the related word “alluvial” describes material carried and deposited by flowing water.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lewH-
“To wash or cleanse; the reconstructed root behind later Latin washing terms.”
Classical Latin
Latin
ēluere
“To wash out, rinse away, or remove by washing.”
Classical Latin
Latin
ēluvium
“A washing away or inundation; later used for material removed by water.”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
eluvium
“Geological material left after soluble components have been washed out.”
Modern English
English
eluvial
“Relating to the process or products of removal from soil by percolating water.”