costean

intransitive verb

cos·​tean
variants or costeen
käˈstēn,
ˈ⸗ˌ⸗
-ed/-ing/-s
British
: to dig trenches or small pits through the surface soil or debris to the underlying rock in place for the purpose of exposing the outcrop of a mineral deposit and determining its course

Word History

Etymology

from (assumed) Cornish costēn, probably from codha to fall, happen + stēn tin; akin to Old Norse hitta to hit, find

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Cite this Entry

“Costean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/costean. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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