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Feldspar

2 stages from German to English.

Today it means a common rock-forming mineral

Where does the word "feldspar" come from? It comes from German Feldspat, adopted directly into English (1750s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
Feldspat
German · 1700s
"field spar"
'field spar', from 'Feld', field, and 'Spat', a flaky mineral; English later linked it to 'Fels', rock
2
Stage 2 of 2
feldspar
English · 1750s
"feldspar"
borrowed from German mineralogy
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Read the full story

Feldspar’s story begins in German: Feldspat meant “field spar.” 'field spar', from 'Feld', field, and 'Spat', a flaky mineral; English later linked it to 'Fels', rock. It reached English by 1750s as feldspar. Borrowed from German mineralogy. Today, feldspar means a common rock-forming mineral.