ammonite

(amə nīt′)

noun

any of the flat, usually coiled fossil shells of an extinct order (Ammonoidea) of cephalopod mollusks dominant in the Mesozoic era

Origin: ModL ammonites < L (cornu) Ammonis, (horn) of Ammon < Jupiter Ammon, whose statues were represented with ram's horns

Related Forms:

See ammonite in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
The coiled, flat, chambered fossil shell of an extinct cephalopod mollusk that was abundant in the Cretaceous Period.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin Ammōnītēs

Origin: , from Latin (cornū) Ammōnis, (horn) of Amen, ammonite

Origin: , genitive of Ammōn, Amen

Origin: , from Greek

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Related Forms:

  • amˌmo·nitˈic (-nĭtˈĭk) adjective

noun
  1. A member of a Semitic people inhabiting ancient Ammon, mentioned frequently in the Bible.
  2. The Semitic language of the Ammonites.

Origin:

Origin: From Late Latin Ammōnītēs, the Ammonites

Origin: , from Hebrew ‘ammônî, Ammonite

Origin: , from ‘ammôn, Ammon

Origin: , perhaps of Canaanite origin; see עmm in Semitic roots

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