carboniferous

(kär′bə nifər əs)

adjective

  1. producing or containing carbon or coal
  2. designating or of the fifth geologic period of the Paleozoic Era, subdivided into the Pennsylvanian () and the Mississippian () and characterized by warm, moist climate and vast swamps which eventually formed into extensive coal deposits

Origin: carbon + -i- + -ferous

See carboniferous in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Of, belonging to, or denoting a geologic division of the Paleozoic Era following the Devonian and preceding the Permian, including the Mississippian Period and the Pennsylvanian Period and characterized, especially in the Pennsylvanian, by swamp formation and deposition of plant remains later hardened into coal.
  2. carboniferous Producing or containing carbon or coal.
noun
The Carboniferous Period. See Table at geologic time.

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