obsidian

Where does the word "obsidian" come from? It comes from Latin Obsius, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Obsidian’s story begins in Latin: Obsius meant “a person's name.” The name of a Roman who, per Pliny, discovered a similar dark volcanic stone in Ethiopia. Within Latin, it grew into obsidianus by ancient. Named after Obsius for the dark, glassy volcanic stone. It reached English by 1600s as obsidian. Settled as the English word for the naturally occurring volcanic glass. Today, obsidian means a naturally occurring volcanic glass, usually black, formed from rapidly cooled lava.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient Obsius "a person's name", the name of a Roman who, per Pliny, discovered a similar dark volcanic stone in Ethiopia.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient obsidianus "the dark, glassy volcanic stone", named after Obsius for the dark, glassy volcanic stone.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s obsidian "a dark, glassy volcanic rock", settled as the English word for the naturally occurring volcanic glass.