solfatara

From Solfatara, the name of a volcano near Naples, from Italian solfo (“sulphur”).

solfatara (plural solfataras or solfatare)

1. An area of volcanic activity that gives off sulfurous steam. [from 18th c.]
   • 1778, Johann Reinhold Forster, Observations Made During a Voyage Round the World, on Physical Geography, Natural History, and Ethic Philosophy, page 25:

     Under these solfataras, (which, at each eruption from the volcano, emitted greater quantities of hot steams) are several hot wells, close to the high-water mark, which, however, seem not to be in the least sulphureous.

   • 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 24:

     Holmes calls these active vents solfataras, so evidently we are at the type locality for this kind of thing.

   • 2000, Tony Waltham, “Geyser watching”, in Geology Today, volume 16, number 3, page 97:

     Vents that produce steam alone are fumaroles, or solfataras if laden with sulphur; impressive, but rarely exciting, they are more common on drier volcanoes than in hydrothermal basins.

• fumarole

From Latin solfatara

solfatara f (plural solfatares)

1. (volcanology) solfatara

solfatara f (plural solfatare)

1. Alternative spelling of zolfatara