Fossil \Fos"sil\, n.

1. A substance dug from the earth. [Obs.]

Note: Formerly all minerals were called fossils, but the word is now restricted to express the remains of animals and plants found buried in the earth. --Ure.

2. (Paleon.) The remains of an animal or plant found in stratified rocks. Most fossils belong to extinct species, but many of the later ones belong to species still living.

3. A person whose views and opinions are extremely antiquated; one whose sympathies are with a former time rather than with the present. [Colloq.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Fossil \Fos"sil\, a. [L. fossilis, fr. fodere to dig: cf. F. fossile. See Fosse.]

1. Dug out of the earth; as, fossil coal; fossil salt.

2. (Paleon.) Like or pertaining to fossils; contained in rocks, whether petrified or not; as, fossil plants, shells.

Fossil copal, a resinous substance, first found in the blue clay at Highgate, near London, and apparently a vegetable resin, partly changed by remaining in the earth.

Fossil cork, flax, paper, or wood, varieties of amianthus.

Fossil farina, a soft carbonate of lime.

Fossil ore, fossiliferous red hematite. --Raymond.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)