How Do You Spell CORNBRASH?

Pronunciation: [kˈɔːnbɹaʃ] (IPA)

Cornbrash, a geological rock formation found in parts of the United Kingdom, is pronounced /kɔːnbræʃ/. The word is composed of two parts, corn and brash, with corn meaning a small, rocky hill or a tip of a rock formation, and brash referring to broken fragments of rock. The spelling of the word reflects its origin in Old English, where corn meant a projecting point or a cone-shaped hill. The word has been used since the 19th century to describe the geological formation found in parts of England and Wales.

CORNBRASH Meaning and Definition

1. Cornbrash is a geological term used to describe a specific type of limestone formation that is primarily composed of fragments of fossilized shells and grains of sand. It is a lithostratigraphic unit that is commonly found in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, specifically within the Middle Jurassic period. The term "Cornbrash" originates from Old English, with 'corn' referring to gravel or grains, and 'brash' indicating a limestone pavement or layer.

   Cornbrash formations are typically thin and horizontally bedded, ranging from a few centimeters to a few meters in thickness. The limestone is often characterized by its light gray to yellow-brown coloration and its grainy texture. It is composed of a mixture of calcite, silica, and clay minerals, with varying proportions depending on the specific composition of the ancient marine environment where it was formed.

   The Cornbrash formation typically occurs as an intermediate layer between the Great Oolite limestone below and the Forest Marble limestone above. It is commonly found in the southern part of the United Kingdom, particularly in the regions of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. Cornbrash limestone is often used as a building material due to its durability and weathering resistance.

   In addition to its geological significance, the term "Cornbrash" is also used in the field of archaeology to describe a particular type of pottery that was commonly found within the Cornbrash limestone quarries. These pottery fragments are characteristic of the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods and provide valuable insights into the ancient civilizations that utilized the Cornbrash deposits.

2. In geol., a coarse shelly limestone, so called from the facility with which it disintegrates and breaks up for the purposes of corn-land.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for CORNBRASH

• xornbrash
• vornbrash
• fornbrash
• dornbrash
• cirnbrash
• ckrnbrash
• clrnbrash
• cprnbrash
• c0rnbrash
• c9rnbrash
• coenbrash
• codnbrash
• cofnbrash
• cotnbrash
• co5nbrash
• co4nbrash
• corbbrash
• cormbrash
• corjbrash
• corhbrash

Etymology of CORNBRASH

The word "Cornbrash" is derived from a combination of two terms: "corn" and "brash".

"Corn" is an Old English term, which originally referred to any small hard particle or grain. In the context of "Cornbrash", however, the term is believed to be a corruption of the word "horn", referring to the color and texture of the rock.

"Brash", on the other hand, is an old word meaning "rubbish" or "fragments". It was commonly used in England to describe fragments of broken rock or rubble.

Therefore, "Cornbrash" essentially means "a formation of broken, fragmentary rock with a horn-like appearance". The term is primarily used to describe a specific geological formation found in parts of England, such as Wiltshire and Oxfordshire, where the rock appears in layers and is often used as a building material.