gneiss

What it means

1. uncountableusuallygeographyA common and widely-distributed metamorphic rock having bands or veins, but not schistose.

   The old towns along the route are as solidly built from the gneiss of the region as you might expect.

   2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 98

In a sentence

The old towns along the route are as solidly built from the gneiss of the region as you might expect.

2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 98

Where it comes from

1. Old High Germangneisto“spark”
2. Middle High Germangneist“spark”
3. GermanGneis
4. Englishgneiss

From German Gneis, from Middle High German gneist (“spark”), from Old High German gneisto (“spark”). More at gnast.