desert varnish
noun
the dark, lustrous coating or crust, usually of manganese and iron oxides, that forms on rocks, pebbles, etc., when exposed to weathering in the desert.
Also called
desert polish.
Origin of desert varnish
First recorded in 1900–05
Words nearby desert varnish
desert oak,
desert pea,
desert rat,
desert rock,
desert soil,
desert varnish,
deserted,
deserticolous,
desertification,
desertion,
deserve