PORPHYRY

noun (plural -ries) Etymology: Middle English porphiri, from Medieval Latin porphyrium, alteration of Latin porphyrites, from Greek porphyritēs (lithos), literally, stone like Tyrian purple, from porphyra purple Date: 15th century a rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red or purple groundmass, an igneous rock of porphyritic texture