Neozoic, a. Geol.
(niːəʊˈzəʊɪk)
[f. neo-, after Palæozoic.]
1. Belonging to the later period of geological history; post-palæozoic (comprising both Mesozoic and Cainozoic).
| 1854 E. Forbes in Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. X. p. lxxix, Both the palæozoic and the after—I must coin a word—neozoic mollusca. 1854 Murchison Siluria xviii. 469 In the Vertebrata, the main direction of development of generic ideas, is, he [Forbes] admits, towards the newer or Neozoic pole. 1888 Ford Catal. Foss. Ceph. Introd. 6 The Palæozoic epoch was of much longer duration than the Neozoic. |
2. = Cainozoic.
| 1873 Dawson Earth & Man x. 235 The term Neozoic was proposed by Edward Forbes for the Mesozoic and Cainozoic combined; but I use it here as a more euphonious and accurate term for the Cainozoic alone. Ibid. 239 Tertiary or Neozoic Time. |