pavonazzo

noun pa·vo·naz·zo \ ˌpävəˈnät(ˌ)sō \

variants: or pavonazzetto \ˌpävənətˈset(ˌ)ō\

Definition of pavonazzo

plural -s

1 : a marble with veins usually of red, violet, or purple found in ancient Roman buildings and thought to be Phrygian

2 : a contemporary marble resembling pavonazzo

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Origin and Etymology of pavonazzo

pavonazzo from Italian, from pavonazzo peacock-colored, purplish, from Latin pavonaceus like a peacock's tail, variegated, from pavon-, pavo peacock + -aceus -aceous; pavonazzetto from Italian, from pavonazzo + -etto -et (from Late Latin -itus & -ita)