sylvite

[ sil-vahyt ]

noun

1. a common mineral, potassium chloride, KCl, colorless to milky-white or red, occurring in crystals, usually cubes, and masses with cubic cleavage, bitter in taste: the most important source of potassium.

sylvite

/ ˈsɪlvaɪt; ˈsɪlviːn /

noun

1. a soluble colourless, white, or coloured mineral consisting of potassium chloride in cubic crystalline form with sodium impurities: it occurs chiefly in sedimentary beds and is an important ore of potassium. Formula: KCl

Word History and Origins

Origin of sylvite¹

1965–70; < Latin ( sal digestīvus ) Sylvi ( ī ) digestive salt of Sylvius ( Sylvian fissure ) + -ite ¹; replacing sylvine < French

Word History and Origins

Origin of sylvite¹

C19: sylvite, alteration of sylvine, from New Latin sal digestiva Sylvii digestive salt of Sylvius, after Franciscus Sylvius (died 1672), German anatomist. See -ite ¹, -ine ²