pyrite (n.)

"metallic iron disulfide," occurring naturally in cubes and crystals, "fool's gold," 1550s, from Old French pyrite (12c.), from Latin pyrites, from Greek pyritēs lithos "stone of fire, flint" (so called because it glitters), from pyritēs "of or in fire," from pyr (genitive pyros) "fire" (from PIE root *paewr- "fire"). Related: Pyritic.

updated on February 18, 2021