Schist
/ʃɪst/noun
A coarse-grained metamorphic rock that splits into thin layers or flakes.
Did you know?Schist ultimately comes from Greek schízein, “to split,” the same ancient root behind words like schism and schizophrenia—because the rock was named for its split, layered structure.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
skhistós
“split, cleft”
Late Greek
Greek
schistós
“split or divided”
Late Latin
Latin
schistus
“a kind of fissile stone”
17th Century
English
schist
“a foliated rock that splits into layers”
Modern English
English
schist
“a metamorphic rock that tends to split into thin flakes or plates”
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