Stercolith
/ˈstɜːrkəlɪθ/noun
A hard mass or concretion formed from fecal material, especially within the intestine or appendix.
Did you know?Stercolith belongs to the same naming tradition as “coprolite,” the fossilized feces studied by paleontologists to reconstruct ancient diets and ecosystems.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sterk-
“To spread or scatter dung; the reconstructed root behind Latin terms for manure”
Classical Latin
Latin
stercus, stercoris
“Dung, manure, or excrement”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λίθος (líthos)
“Stone”
Scientific coinage
New Latin/English
stercolithus / stercolith
“A technical compound formed from stercor-, “dung,” and -lith, “stone””
Modern English
English
stercolith
“A hardened fecal concretion, commonly referring to one occurring in the intestinal tract or appendix”
Explore more surprising origins