Vulcanian

Meanings

1. Of, related to, or created by Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metalwork, considered equivalent to the Greek Hephaestus and several German and Celtic gods.
2. Alternative letter-case form of vulcanian, a cuckold.
3. Alternative letter-case form of vulcanian, of or related to metalwork, blacksmithing, and metallurgy.
4. Alternative letter-case form of vulcanian, volcanic, of or related to volcanoes and volcanism.
5. Of or related to former theories attributing the origin of basalt and other crystalline minerals to subterranean fires.
6. Of or related to volcanic eruptions or phases of a volcanic eruption when repeated explosions produce a thick ash cloud.
7. Of or related to the proposed planet Vulcan or a cluster of asteroids at the same location in the Solar System.

Etymology

Directly from Latin Vulcāniānus or from Latin Vulcānius + -an within English, from Vulcānus + -iānus (“-ian”) or -ius (“-y: forming adjectives”). In reference to a type or stage of volcanic activity, via Italian Vulcaniano, with specific reference to Giuseppe Mercalli's observations of the 1888–90 eruptions of the Aeolian island Vulcano. Equivalent to Vulcan + -ian. Doublet of volcanian. Compare slightly earlier Middle French vulcanien.