Tufo
/ˈtuːfoʊ/noun
A porous volcanic rock formed from compacted ash and other volcanic fragments.
Did you know?The same ancient Greek root behind tufo also produced “tophus,” the term for chalky mineral lumps that can form around joints in gout.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
tóphos (τόφος)
“A porous, spongy stone or volcanic rock”
Classical Latin
Latin
tophus
“A porous stone, especially volcanic stone”
Medieval Latin
Latin
tophus / tufus
“Soft, porous stone used as a building material”
Medieval Italian
Italian
tufo
“Volcanic tuff or porous stone”
19th Century
English
tufo
“A borrowed geological term for volcanic tuff”
Modern English
English
tufo
“A porous volcanic rock, especially one described in geological or Italian contexts”