Hypertext Webster Gateway: "detritus"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Detritus \De*tri"tus\, n. [F. d['e]tritus, fr. L. detritus, p.
p. of deterere. See {Detriment}.]
1. (Geol.) A mass of substances worn off from solid bodies by
attrition, and reduced to small portions; as, diluvial
detritus.
Note: For large portions, the word d['e]bris is used.
2. Hence: Any fragments separated from the body to which they
belonged; any product of disintegration.
The mass of detritus of which modern languages are
composed. --Farrar.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
detritus
n 1: the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken
up [syn: {debris}, {dust}, {junk}, {rubble}]
2: loose material (stone fragments and silt etc) that is worn
away from rocks
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