METEORITES
Noun
meteorites
plural of meteorite
Source: Wiktionary
METEORITE
Me"te*or*ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. météorite.] (Min.)
Definition: A mass of stone or iron which has fallen to the earth from
space; an aërolite.
Note: Meteorites usually show a pitted surface with a fused crust,
caused by the heat developed in their rapid passage through the
earth's atmosphere. A meteorite may consist: 1. Of metallic iron,
alloyed with a small percentage of nickel (meteoric iron,
holosiderite). When etched this usually exhibits peculiar crystalline
figures, called Widmanstätten figures. 2. Of a cellular mass of iron
with imbedded silicates (mesosiderite or siderolite). 3. Of a stony
mass of silicates with little iron (meteoric stone, sporadosiderite).
4. Of a mass without iron (asiderite).
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition