Obsidian

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  obsidian \ob*sid"i*an\, n. [L. Obsidianus lapis, so named,
     according to Pliny, after one Obsidius, who discovered it in
     Ethiopia: cf. F. obsidiane, obsidienne. The later editions of
     Pliny read Obsianus lapis, and Obsius, instead of Obsidianus
     lapis, and Obsidius.] (Min.)
     A kind of glass produced by volcanoes. It is usually of a


     black color, and opaque, except in thin splinters.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: In a thin section it often exhibits a fluidal
           structure, marked by the arrangement of microlites in
           the lines of the flow of the molten mass.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  obsidian
       n : acid or granitic glass; usually dark, but transparent in
           thin pieces

From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:

  Obsidian, ID
    Zip code(s): 83340