Plinthite
/ˈplɪnθaɪt/noun
A clay-rich soil material that hardens irreversibly when exposed to repeated wetting and drying.
Did you know?Plinthite was named in modern soil science from Greek *plinthos*, meaning a brick or tile, because it hardens into bricklike masses after drying.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
πλίνθος (plínthos)
“brick; tile”
Latin
Latin
plinthus
“brick-shaped block; base”
Modern Scientific Latin
Latin
plinthite
“a soil material that hardens into bricklike masses”
20th Century
English
plinthite
“a clay-rich soil horizon that becomes irreversibly hard on exposure and drying”