De*tri"tus (?), n. [F. d'etritus, 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.
⇒ For large portions, the word d'ebris 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.
© Webster 1913.