Mellite
/ˈmɛl.aɪt/noun
A rare honey-yellow mineral composed of hydrated aluminum mellitate.
Did you know?Mellite was named for its honey-like color, linking a mineral studied by modern chemistry to the ancient Indo-European word for honey and sweetness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*melid
“Honey”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλι (meli)
“Honey”
Classical Latin
Latin
mel; mellītēs
“Honey; honey-colored”
18th Century
German
Mellit
“A mineral named for its honey-yellow color”
18th Century
English
mellite
“The mineral mellite”
Modern English
English
mellite
“A rare hydrated aluminum salt with a honey-yellow or brownish appearance”
Explore more surprising origins