nepheline

noun

neph·​e·​line ˈne-fə-ˌlēn 

variants or less commonly nephelite

ˈne-fə-ˌlīt 

: a hexagonal mineral that is a usually glassy crystalline silicate of sodium, potassium, and aluminum common in igneous rocks

nephelinic

ˌne-fə-ˈli-nik 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

French néphéline, from Greek nephelē cloud — more at nebula

First Known Use

circa 1814, in the meaning defined above