Word of the Day – Pryan

Pryan (also prian) (noun)

pry-an

(dialect British, South West English Mining) Soft white gravelly clay.

Mid 17th century. Apparently from Cornish pry clay (Middle Cornish pry; cognate with Welsh pridd soil, earth, Early Irish cré soil, earth, clay (Irish cré), further etymology uncertain, perhaps related to classical Latin crēta chalk) + a suffix of uncertain origin, perhaps -en, although this usually forms adjectives.

Example sentences

“The pryan exposed on the gravelly hilltops.”