a volcanic glass similar in composition to granite, usually dark but transparent in thin pieces, and having a good conchoidal fracture.
Origin of obsidian
1350–1400; <Latin Obsidiānus, printer's error for Obsiānus pertaining to Obsius, the discoverer (according to Pliny) of a similar mineral in Ethiopia; replacing Middle English obsianus<Latin; see -an
Based on previous discoveries of items made of obsidian, seashells and other exotic materials at council circles, these structures must have hosted rituals of some kind, says archaeologist Susan Vehik of the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
Drones find signs of a Native American ‘Great Settlement’ beneath a Kansas pasture|Bruce Bower|September 10, 2020|Science News
“I think the main reason is the availability of information and community groups that the Internet provides,” said Obsidian.
The Next Big Environmental Fight: Tampons?|Keli Goff|May 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dragonglass: The name accorded to volcanic glass or obsidian.
‘Game of Thrones’ Season 3 for Dummies|Jace Lacob|March 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Some clothing with feathers woven in, and some bits of obsidian and of blue thread were found, but no weapons or utensils.
Unknown Mexico, Volume 1 (of 2)|Carl Lumholtz
Bronze was in common use, but obsidian knives and arrow-heads of fine workmanship abound in the ruins.
The Discovery of America Vol. 1 (of 2)|John Fiske.
Over an area several miles square the ground is strewn with hewn blocks of stone and fragments of pottery and obsidian.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume IV|Hubert Howe Bancroft
The polished battle-axe was more used in Grand Canary, while stone and obsidian, roughly cut, were commoner in Teneriffe.
Along with these were other small points (Plate 15, p. 36), two of which were made of obsidian.
Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types|James W. Cambron
British Dictionary definitions for obsidian
obsidian
/ (ɒbˈsɪdɪən) /
noun
a dark volcanic glass formed by very rapid solidification of lavaAlso called: Iceland agate
Word Origin for obsidian
C17: from Latin obsidiānus, erroneous transcription of obsiānus (lapis) (stone of) Obsius, the name (in Pliny) of the discoverer of a stone resembling obsidian
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A shiny, usually black, volcanic glass. Obsidian forms above ground from lava that is similar in composition to the magma from which granite forms underground, but cools so quickly that minerals do not have a chance to form within it.