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gneiss in British English
(naɪs)
noun
any coarse-grained metamorphic rock that is banded and foliated: represents the last stage in the metamorphism of rocks before melting
Derived forms
gneissic (ˈgneissic) or gneissoid (ˈgneissoid) or gneissose (ˈgneissose) or gneissitic (gneiˈssitic) adjective
Word origin
C18: from German Gneis, probably from Middle High German ganeist spark; related to Old Norse gneista to give off sparksgneiss in American English
(naɪs)
noun
a coarsegrained, metamorphic rock resembling granite, consisting of alternating layers of different minerals, such as feldspar, quartz, mica, and hornblende, and having a banded appearance
Derived forms
gneissic (ˈgneissic) adjective
gneissoid (ˈgneissoid)
adjective
Word origin
Ger gneis < OHG gneisto, a spark, akin to ON gneisti, OE gnast: from the luster of certain of the componentsImage ofgneiss
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