rock-stone
[rock n.1]
A stone of the nature of a rock; stone obtained by quarrying or cutting from the rock.
| 1545 Bale Image Both Ch. i. xv. (1550) h vj, These stande euermore on the glassy sea, they set sure fotyng vpon the rocke stone. 1668 Charleton Onomast. 241 Saxum,..Rock⁓stone. 1748 J. Hill Hist. Fossils 447 White or whitish Rock Stone, Sympexium albidum. 1765 Museum Rust. IV. 146 In one of which [kilns] I burn chalk cut in pieces, and the other small rock-stones. 1795 J. Phillips Treat. Inland Nav. Add. 172 Coals, coak, iron, iron-stone, lime-stone, rock-stone, bricks, tiles, and other minerals. 1808 Forsyth Beauties Scotl. V. 517 Rock-stone, formed of mica and quartz [is found in Colonsay]. |
______________________________
Add: Now chiefly W. Indies. (In quot. 1847, a small stone or pebble.) (Further examples.)
| 1847 P. H. Gosse Birds of Jamaica 274 The youth picked up a ‘rock-stone’, as pebbles are called in Jamaica, and delivered the missile with so skilful an aim, that the bird dropped to the ground. 1863 H. M. Waddell 29 Yrs. W. Indies & Cent. Afr. ix. 182 The poor horses were plunging every step among rock stones, tree roots, and mud holes. 1943 in Cassidy & Le Page Dict. Jamaican Eng. (1967) 384/1 Racca Tone, Rack tone;..rokka-tone. 1987 M. Collins Angel ii. 21 The man..held a huge rock-stone in each hand. |