Lapis
/ˈla.pis/noun
A stone or rock, especially a precious or engraved stone in Latin and learned English usage.
Did you know?Lapis is the source of modern words like lapidary and the gemstone name lapis lazuli, and its ancient root is shared with the Greek word for stone, lithos.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lep-
“to peel, cut, or chip”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λίθος (líthos)
“stone, rock”
Latin
Latin
lapis
“stone, rock; a stone used as a marker or monument”
Late Latin
Latin
lapidārius
“of stone; relating to carving stone”
Middle English
English
lapidary
“a worker in precious stones; relating to gems or engraved stones”
Modern English
English
lapis lazuli
“a deep-blue semi-precious stone”
Explore more surprising origins