# lias

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈliəs/ · frequency rank #83,458

## Definitions
1. A type of blue limestone present in parts of southern England and Wales.
2. Alternative letter-case form of Lias.

## Etymology
Originally dialectal, from Old French liois (“compact limestone”) (French liais), from Medieval Latin liae, plural of lia; doublet of lees (which is via Latin lias). Ultimate origin uncertain, possibly a Celtic word (such as Gaulish *ligyā) from Proto-Celtic *legyā, from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ- (“to lie (down)”). Compare Loire and Leicester.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lias