Authoritative answer
Exact answer
The combining form -lith means stone or rock and comes from Greek lithos through New Latin or French forms.
Scope: Recorded English etymology and sense history; reviewed July 31, 2026.
Important boundary: This is the suffix/combining form, not the unrelated old dialect noun lith meaning a limb or joint.
Evidence
Quick answer
A short etymology card for lith: origin, meaning history, memorable hook, and source-language context.
Source-first
Reviewed Jul 2026
Origin story
The combining form -lith means stone or rock, from Greek lithos through New Latin or French.
Why it sticks
A small word part that turns up in stones from monoliths to gastroliths.
Shareable cardLith: A small word part that turns up in stones from monoliths to gastroliths.