Black powder made of carbon particles that forms when something burns incompletely, often found on chimneys and walls.
From Old English 'sot,' related to Germanic roots meaning 'what settles.' The word originally referred to any fine powder or dust, but became specifically associated with the dark residue from fires.
Soot particles are so tiny they can travel through your lungs into your bloodstream—Victorian London was so covered in soot that light midday photos needed long exposures, and children's chimneys were dangerously clogged with it.
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