fossil

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the preserved remains or shape of a plant or animal that lived long ago

   The children searched the cliffs for fossils of ancient shells.

2. 2
   noun

   a person or thing that is very old or out of date

   My grandfather jokes that his old phone makes him feel like a fossil.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Fossil, recorded from the mid-16th century, is derived from Latin fodere, “to dig,” reflecting the fact that fossils are dug from the earth. It was initially applied to fossilized fish found underground; from the mid-19th century it was also used figuratively for an outdated or change-resistant person or organization.

From French fossile, from Latin fossilis (“something which has been dug up”), from fodio (“to dig up”).

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary