pozzolana

noun /ˌpɒts(w)əˈlɑːnə/

1. A type of volcanic ash used for mortar or for cement which sets under water.

   countable, uncountable

   Finally the street is strewn with pozzolana to prevent the horses from slipping on the smooth paving.

Where it comes from

Borrowed from Italian pozz(u)olana, earth of Pozzuoli, a town near Naples, itself from Latin Puteoli, ultimately from the verb puteō (“stink”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry pozzolana (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← potherpraemunire →

Another random word More words starting with P