Vesuvians

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Natives or inhabitants of the region around Mount Vesuvius in Italy ; old-fashioned friction matches that ignite when struck ; a green or brown silicate mineral also called idocrase
2. People who live on the slopes or in the territory near the volcano Mount Vesuvius ; historical wooden matches tipped with a chemical head ; a silicate mineral known as idocrase that forms in crystals
3. Those born in or residing near Mount Vesuvius ; early lucifer-style matches that were lit by friction ; a calcium aluminum silicate mineral, commonly called idocrase, found in metamorphic rocks

Etymology: "Vesuvians" is the plural of "Vesuvian," a noun for a mineral also known as idocrase, named for Mount Vesuvius, the volcano near Naples in Italy. The noun is formed from the mountain's name with the suffix "-an," meaning belonging to or associated with, so a Vesuvian is literally something from Vesuvius. The mineral takes its name from the volcano because it was found among the lava and debris ejected from Vesuvius, the eruptions of which shaped the surrounding landscape. The mountain's name itself is of uncertain origin, so the story of the word rests on the volcano's reputation rather than on any older root.

Synonyms: idocrase