Origin: 1500-1600 Latin fossilis dug up, from fodere to dig
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS►fossil record
the appearance of species in the fossil record (=all the fossils that have been discovered and recorded by scientists)
1science, biology, earth science part of an animal or plant that lived millions of years ago and that has been preserved, or the shape of one of these plants or animals that is preserved in rock: Several dinosaur fossils were found in Montana. the appearance of species in the fossil record (=all the fossils that have been discovered and recorded by scientists)2informal an insulting word for an old person [Origin: 1500–1600 Latin fossilis dug up, from fodere to dig]