guyot etymology

Etymology of Guyot

The term "guyot" is derived from the French word "guyot" or "guiot," which means "a big fellow." The term was first used in the scientific literature by American geologist Arnold Henry Guyot (1807-1884), who applied it to a type of submarine mountain he discovered in the Atlantic Ocean.

Meaning of Guyot

A guyot is a flat-topped, underwater mountain or hill that rises gently from the ocean floor. It typically has a steep-sided, conical shape similar to a volcano, except that it is truncated at the top. Guyots are typically found in the deep ocean between 2,000 and 4,000 meters (6,500 and 13,000 feet) below the surface.

Origin of Guyot

Guyots are formed when volcanic islands erode and subside, leaving a flat-topped mountain submerged beneath the ocean. As the volcano erodes, the volcanic cone gradually sinks into the ocean floor. The top of the cone becomes flatter and broader over time due to erosion and sedimentation. The resulting flat-topped mountain is known as a guyot.

Guyots provide evidence for the subsidence of volcanic islands and the changes in sea level over geologic time. They are important for understanding the history of ocean basins and the formation of marine landscapes.

guyot relate terms

  • python

    Etymology The word python has its roots in Greek mythology It is derived from the name

  • doubt

    Etymology The word doubt derives from the Old French word douter meaning to fear h

  • pilgrim

    Etymology The word pilgrim comes from the Old French word pelegrin which itself ori

  • maroon

    Etymology The word maroon has multiple etymological origins Spanish cimarrón m

  • portmanteau

    Etymology and Origin The word portmanteau is derived from French where it means sui

  • discretion

    Etymology The word discretion comes from the Middle English word discrecioun which

  • chorus

    Etymology Late Latin chorus Greek khoros a dancing place from khoreia dance Me

  • cardinal

    Etymology The word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardinalis meaning chief or

  • holy

    Etymology The word holy originates from the Old English word hālġ which means sac

  • poignant

    Etymology Middle English poynaunt from Old French poignant meaning pricking sharp