Pis'sas-phălt, n.

n. [Lat. pissasphaltus, Gr. πισσάσφαλτος, from πίσσα, pitch, turpentine, and ἄσφαλτος, asphalt; Fr. pissasphalte, It. pissasfalto, Sp. pissasfalto.] (Min.) Earth-pitch; a soft bitumen of the consistence of tar, black, and of a strong smell. It is inflammable, and intermediate between petroleum and asphalt, and appears to be a combination of naphtha and asphalt. It is now considered as a mere variety of petroleum. Deprived of its naphtha, asphalt remains. [Written also pissasphalt and pissaphalt.]