ONLINE
ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY:
- basalt (n.)
- c.1600, from L.L. basaltes, misspelling of L. basanites "very hard stone," from Gk. basanites "a species of slate used to test gold," from basanos "touchstone." Not connected with salt. Said by Pliny ["Historia," 36.58] to be an African word, perhaps Egyptian bauhan "slate." Any hard, very dark rock would do as a touchstone; the assayer compared the streak left by the alleged gold with that of real gold or baser metals. Hence Gk. basanizein "to be put to the test, examined closely, cross-examined, to be put to torture."
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