Tufa
/ˈtjuːfə/noun
A porous limestone formed by precipitation of calcium carbonate, often around springs or in caves.
Did you know?Tufa’s name comes through Italian from Latin, and the same ancient root behind it also shows up in words tied to fire and smoke, because early writers associated these pale deposits with volcanic and mineral wonders.
Etymological Timeline
Modern English
English
tufa
“Porous limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially around water.”
18th Century
Italian
tufa
“A soft, porous stone.”
Late Latin
Latin
tofus
“A porous stone or tufa-like rock.”
Classical Latin
Latin
tophus
“A porous stone; a soft, spongy rock.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
tóphos
“A kind of porous stone or rock.”