A type of rock formed from volcanic ash and fragments that have been compressed and cemented together.
From Italian 'tufo', from Latin 'tophus' meaning porous stone. The geological term entered English through Italian in the 18th century as scientists studied volcanic formations around Naples and Rome, where tuff was commonly used in construction.
Tuff might look like a misspelling of 'tough', but it's actually quite different - this volcanic rock can be surprisingly soft and easy to carve, which is why ancient Romans used it extensively for construction. The Colosseum contains significant amounts of tuff, proving that volcanic destruction can become the foundation for human creation.
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