Lapilli
/ləˈpɪl.i/noun
Small volcanic rock fragments, usually between 2 and 64 millimeters in diameter.
Did you know?The term comes from Latin lapillus, meaning “small stone,” and volcanologists kept the ancient plural form alive for fragments hurled out by volcanoes.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lehp-
“to stone, strike, or beat”
Latin
Latin
lapis
“stone”
Latin
Latin
lapillus
“small stone, pebble”
Late Latin / Scientific Latin
Latin
lapilli
“small stones; volcanic fragments”
Modern English
English
lapilli
“volcanic rock fragments ejected during an eruption”
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