Cainozoic, a. Geol.
(kaɪnəʊˈzəʊɪk, keɪnəʊ-)
Also kainozoic, cænozoic.
[f. Gr. καινό-ς recent + ζῷον animal + -ic. The analogical form would be Cænozoic, as sometimes actually used; but Caino- is favoured by most authors as more evidently suggesting the derivation.]
Of or pertaining to the third of the great geological periods (also called tertiary), or to the remains or formations characteristic of it.
| 1854 Page Introd. Text-bk. Geol. 39 Cainozoic Period (Recent Life). 1865 Lyell Elem. Geol. 92 Some geologists..have introduced the term Cainozoic, for tertiary. 1878 Huxley Physiogr. xvii. 290 One great group known as the Tertiary or Cainozoic series. |