designating or of the sixth and last geologic period of the Paleozoic Era, characterized by the formation of Pangea, glaciation in the Southern Hemisphere, development of mountains, esp. in the Appalachians, and an increase in the diversity of land plants and animals
Origin:
after the city of Perm
See Permian in American Heritage Dictionary 4
adjective
Of or belonging to the geologic time, system of rocks, or sedimentary deposits of the seventh and last period of the Paleozoic Era, characterized by the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea, the rise of conifers, and the diversification of reptiles and ending with the largest known mass extinction in the history of life. See Table at geologic time.
noun
The Permian Period.
Origin:
Origin: After Perm Oblast, a region of west-central Russia