Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
novaculite

novaculite

1 9.9
A very hard rock used to make stones for sharpening knives and tools
  • noun
  • /nəˈvɑːkjʊˌlaɪt/
  • Specialized
: novaculita
  • Many artisans prefer novaculite for crafting durable sharpening stones.

Examples

  • The sharpness of my knife improved after I used the novaculite whetstone.

  • For a start, the so-called "keystone" is carved from novaculite, a mineral found in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, but not available to a late medieval carver in the Old World.

    Blog text (11)

  • A novaculite rock is essential for keeping tools in top condition.

Synonyms

stone
vsnovaculite
897 1.0

A hard natural rock used for building or a small piece of it

is a specific fine-grained silica rock mainly used for sharpening tools
quartzite
vsnovaculite
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A hard rock that forms when sandstone changes under heat and pressure

is fine-grained and prized for sharpening rather than having interlocking crystals
silcrete
vsnovaculite
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A hard rock that forms when sand or soil are glued together by natural silica

is used specifically for sharpening tools and making whetstones

Surface Forms

novaculite singular
novaculites plural

Morphology

novaculite = novacul + ite

Although the word is formed from a Latin root meaning 'razor' plus the mineral-forming suffix '-ite', the root 'novacul' is not a recognizable English base for most learners, so the meaning cannot be reliably derived from its parts.

Etymology

Novaculite comes from the Latin novacula, which means 'razor' or 'sharp knife'. Because this hard rock was used for whetstones to sharpen blades, the name helps you remember that novaculite makes tools very sharp.