spelæan, a.
(spɪˈliːən)
Also spelean.
[f. mod.L. spelæ-us, f. L. spēlæum, ad. Gr. σπήλαιον cave.]
1. Inhabiting a cave or caves; frequenting caverns; cave-dwelling.
| 1839 G. Roberts Dict. Geol. 161 Spelæan, that frequent caverns. A term applied to the hyæna. 1874 Dawkins Cave Hunt. iii. 118 The remains of the spelæan variety of the spotted hyæna were very abundant in the cave⁓earth. a 1882 Fraser's Mag. (Imp. Dict.), Those primitive spelæan people who contended against and trapped the mammoth. |
2. Of the nature of a cave.
| 1882 Owen in Longman's Mag. I. 67 More satisfactorily..than in any other spelæan retreat which I have explored. |