▪ I. mellite, n. Min.
(ˈmɛlaɪt)
[First in mod.L. mellītēs (Gmelin 1793), f. L. mell-, mel honey: see -ite.]
Native mellitate of aluminium, occurring in honey-yellow octahedral crystals. See also melilite 2, honey-stone 2.
First found in brown-coal seams in Thuringia.
| 1801 Nicholson's Jrnl. IV. 516 Honigstein..has a light yellow colour, which has caused it to obtain the name of mellite, or honey stone. 1823 W. Phillips Introd. Min. (ed. 3) 374. 1878 Lawrence tr. Cotta's Rocks Class. 66 Mellite occurs as an accessory ingredient in Brown Coal. |
▪ II. † mellite, a. Obs. rare—1.
[ad. L. mellīt-us, f. mell-, mel honey.]
Honeyed, sweet.
| c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. ii. 262 Summe..honge hem [services] vp in place opake and drie; And wyn mellite [L. sapa], as seid is, saue hem shall. |