Pumice Stone
/ˈpʌm.ɪs stoʊn/noun
A lightweight, highly porous volcanic rock commonly used as an abrasive.
Did you know?Pumice forms when gas-rich lava cools so quickly that bubbles become trapped, creating a rock light enough to float on water.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
pūmex
“Pumice; a porous, abrasive volcanic rock”
14th Century
Old French
pomis
“Pumice”
14th Century
Middle English
pumis
“Pumice”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-
“To stand or be firm; the ancient root associated with the stone element in the compound”
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*stainaz
“Stone”
Old English
Old English
stān
“Stone or rock”
Modern English
English
pumice stone
“A pumice rock used especially for scrubbing, polishing, or removing hardened skin”