osseous, a.
(ˈɒsiːəs)
[f. L. osse-us bony (f. os bone) + -ous. Cf. F. osseux (1689 in Hatz.-Darm.).]
1. Of, consisting of, or of the nature of bone; bony; ossified.
| 1707 J. Drake Anthrop. Nova II. ii. viii. 465 The Coats of the Vessels..soonest become Osseous, as they are frequently found. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. i. vii. (1765) 15 An osseous Epidermis..commonly called the Shell. 1843 Carlyle Past & Pr. ii. ii, Alas, how like an old osseous fragment. 1872 Nicholson Palæont. 308 As regards their true osseous system or endo-skeleton, Fishes vary very widely. 1881 Mivart Cat 19 Bone, or osseous tissue, is a substance, two-thirds of which..consists of mineral matter. |
2. Having a bony skeleton, teleostean.
| 1828 Stark Elem. Nat. Hist. I. 374 The two great divisions [of Fishes], founded on the character of their bones, as being Cartilaginous or Osseous, are natural and well marked. 1873 Mivart Elem. Anat. ii. 59 In osseous Fishes the end of the tail is turned up. |
3. Abounding in fossil bones, ossiferous.
| 1823 Buckland Reliq. Diluv. 150 The femur of a bear from the osseous breccia of Pisa. 1876 Page Adv. Text-bk. Geol. xix. 383 Osseous breccia appears singularly connected with the coasts of the Mediterranean. |
4. fig. Hard or firm as bone.
| 1682 Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. iii. §4 The osseous and solid part of Goodness, which gives Stability and Rectitude to all the rest. 1860 Farrar Orig. Lang. vi. 130 The osseous fixtures in the flesh garment of Language. |
Hence ˈosseously adv., as regards bone.
| 1877 Encycl. Brit. VII. 258/2 The elbow is osseously strong, but this strength..varies with the position of the arm. |