coccolith

Meaning

Noun

• A microscopic skeletal plate of calcite on the surface of certain marine phytoplankton; it forms chalk and limestone when fossilized
• Alternative of coccolite

Origin

• Derived from coccolithophore; surface analysis is from Ancient Greek κόκκος ("grain, seed") and λίθος, due to the shape of the organism's exoskeleton.
• Ancient Greek ("berry") -lith