"pertaining to the earth," 1846, from L. tellus (gen. telluris) "earth," from PIE base *tel- "ground, floor" (cf. Lith. telinat "spread out, flat," Skt. talam "plain, sole of the foot," O.C.S. tilo "floor," Gk. telia "dice board," O.Ir. talam "earth," O.N. žilja "plank"). The chemical telluride is attested from 1849.