Sphagite
/ˈsfædʒ.aɪt/noun
A substance or fossil-like material derived from decomposed sphagnum moss, essentially a form of peat.
Did you know?Sphagnum moss can acidify and oxygen-starve bogs, creating conditions that preserve some human remains with astonishing detail, producing the famous “bog bodies.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
σφάγνος (sphagnos)
“Sphagnum moss or a moss associated with wet ground”
Late Antiquity
Latin
sphagnos
“A transliterated botanical term for sphagnum moss”
18th Century
Scientific Latin
Sphagnum
“The botanical genus of peat-forming mosses”
19th Century
English
sphagnum
“Peat moss, especially moss of the genus Sphagnum”
19th Century
English
sphagite
“Material formed from or resembling decomposed sphagnum moss”
Modern English
English
sphagite
“A peat-like substance associated with sphagnum moss”
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