Pelite
/ˈpiːlaɪt/noun
A fine-grained clastic sedimentary rock or sediment composed chiefly of mud-sized particles.
Did you know?The root behind pelite, Greek pēlos meaning “mud” or “clay,” also appears in scientific words describing medicinal muds and clay-like materials.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
πηλός (pēlos)
“Mud, clay, or earth made plastic by water”
Classical Greek
Greek
πηλώδης (pēlōdēs)
“Muddy or clay-like”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
pelites
“A clayey or mud-derived material, formed with the geological suffix -ite”
19th Century
German/French geological usage
Pelit
“Fine-grained sediment or rock composed of mud-sized particles”
Modern English
English
pelite
“A fine-grained clastic sedimentary rock or sediment”
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