Chert
Origin
Unknown.
Full definition of chert
Noun
chert
(countable and uncountable; plural cherts)- (geology, uncountable) Massive, usually dull-colored and opaque, quartzite, hornstone, impure chalcedony, or other flint-like mineral.
- (countable) A flint-like tool made from chert.
Usage notes
Generally, in mineralogy and geology, a chert does not have a conchoidal fracture. In North American archeology the term chert occasionally is still used for various siliceous minerals (including flint) that have a conchoidal fracture; this leads to confusion between the terms flint and chert in some archeology texts.