A poorly characterized clay resembling yellow ochre and containing ferric iron.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in James Dana (1813–1895), geologist, zoologist, and teacher. From post-classical Latin Melinites from Hellenistic Greek μήλινος quince-yellow + post-classical Latin -ites.
melinite2
/ˈmɛlɪnʌɪt/
(also mélinite)
noun
A high explosive, first developed in France, based on picric acid and similar to lyddite.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in The Daily News. From French mélinite, apparently from Hellenistic Greek μήλινος quince-yellow + French -ite, with allusion to the colour of the explosive.