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pavonazzo

noun
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pa·​vo·​naz·​zo | \ ˌpävəˈnät(ˌ)sō \
variants: or pavonazzetto \ ˌpävənətˈset(ˌ)ō \
plural -s

Definition of pavonazzo

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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History and Etymology for 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)

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Cite this Entry

“Pavonazzo.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pavonazzo. Accessed 21 January 2020.

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