Volcanian

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A type of explosive volcanic eruption characterized by violent bursts of lava, ash, and rock fragments ejected from a vent
2. Relating to or denoting a style of volcanic activity marked by moderately violent explosions that eject fragmented rock, ash, and incandescent material from a crater or vent
3. Marked by moderately intense explosive volcanic activity involving ejection of fragmented material, ash, and glowing debris from a volcanic vent

Etymology: Volcanian is a close relative of "Vulcanian," and the two words share a single ancestor: Volcanus, the Latin name of the Roman god of fire and metalworking, whom the Romans also called Vulcanus. The "V" and "U" spellings were interchangeable in Latin, so the god's name appeared in both forms. English then took the adjective twice, once through the Latin form "Volcanianus" and once through the "Vulcanus" spelling, which is why the two words are doublets. The adjective ending comes from the Latin suffix "-ianus," which forms adjectives meaning "relating to" or "belonging to." Attached to the god's name, it produced a word meaning something like "of Vulcan." In the sense used by geologists, the word describes a type of volcanic eruption that is moderately explosive, with bursts of ash and gas that build up pressure before breaking through. The mythological link to fire survives in the word, since the god Vulcan was the divine smith whose forge was associated with volcanoes.