dalton

Dal-ton · proper noun

imported

Definitions

proper noun

  1. 1.

    A surname of English origin.

  2. 2.

    A masculine given name.

  3. 3.

    A unit of atomic mass, equal to one-twelfth the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

Related words

See also: atomic, mass

Etymology

As a surname, from Old English dael meaning "valley" and tun meaning "settlement, town," thus "valley town." The scientific unit is named after physicist John Dalton (1766-1844), pioneer of atomic theory.