English Explanatory Dictionary

lias

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A type of blue limestone present in parts of southern England and Wales.
  2. Alternative letter-case form of Lias.
name
  1. A stratigraphic group from the lower Jurassic of Western Europe, consisting of thin layers of blue limestone.
  2. The lower Jurassic.
  3. A surname.
noun
  1. plural of LIA

Pronunciation

/ˈliəs/

Word forms

lias

Etymology

Originally dialectal, from Old French liois (“compact limestone”) (French liais), from Medieval Latin liae, plural of lia; doublet of lees (which is via Latin lias). Ultimate origin uncertain, possibly a Celtic word (such as Gaulish *ligyā) from Proto-Celtic *legyā, from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie (down)”). Compare Loire and Leicester.

Derived words

Liassic
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