v. i. [ Dial. E. fossick, fossuck, a troublesome person, fussick to potter over one's work, fussock to bustle about; of uncertain origin. Cf. Fuss. ] 1. (Mining) To search for gold by picking at stone or earth or among roots in isolated spots, picking over abandoned workings, etc.; hence, to steal gold or auriferous matter from another's claim. [ Australia ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. To search about; to rummage.

A man who has fossicked in nature's byways. D. Macdonald. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. fossilis, fr. fodere to dig: cf. F. fossile. See Fosse. ] 1. Dug out of the earth; as, fossil coal; fossil salt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. preserved from a previous geological age; as, fossil water from deep wells; -- usually implying that the object so described has had its substance modified by long residence in the ground, but also used (as with fossil water) in cases where chemical composition is not altered. [ PJC ]

3. (Paleon.) Like or pertaining to fossils; contained in rocks, whether petrified or not; as, fossil plants, shells. [ 1913 Webster ]

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,
Fossil flax,
Fossil paper, or
Fossil wood, varieties of amianthus. --
Fossil farina, a soft carbonate of lime. --
Fossil ore, fossiliferous red hematite. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A substance dug from the earth. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A person whose views and opinions are extremely antiquated; one whose sympathies are with a former time rather than with the present. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Fossil + -ferous. ] (Paleon.) Containing or composed of fossils. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Fossil + L. facere to make. ] The process of becoming fossil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The science or state of fossils. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being extremely antiquated in views and opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is versed in the science of fossils; a paleontologist. Joseph Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. fossilisation. ] The process of converting, or of being converted, into a fossil. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fossilized p. pr. & vb. n. Fossilizing ] [ Cf. F. fossiliser. ] 1. To convert into a fossil; to petrify; as, to fossilize bones or wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, as by fossilization; to mummify; to deaden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ten layers of birthdays on a woman's head
Are apt to fossilize her girlish mirth. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To become fossil. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, beyond the influence of change or progress. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Converted into a fossil; antiquated; firmly fixed in views or opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fossilized sample of confused provincialism. Earle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. fossilis, fr. fodere to dig: cf. F. fossile. See Fosse. ] 1. Dug out of the earth; as, fossil coal; fossil salt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. preserved from a previous geological age; as, fossil water from deep wells; -- usually implying that the object so described has had its substance modified by long residence in the ground, but also used (as with fossil water) in cases where chemical composition is not altered. [ PJC ]

3. (Paleon.) Like or pertaining to fossils; contained in rocks, whether petrified or not; as, fossil plants, shells. [ 1913 Webster ]

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,
Fossil flax,
Fossil paper, or
Fossil wood, varieties of amianthus. --
Fossil farina, a soft carbonate of lime. --
Fossil ore, fossiliferous red hematite. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A substance dug from the earth. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A person whose views and opinions are extremely antiquated; one whose sympathies are with a former time rather than with the present. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Fossil + -ferous. ] (Paleon.) Containing or composed of fossils. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Fossil + L. facere to make. ] The process of becoming fossil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The science or state of fossils. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being extremely antiquated in views and opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is versed in the science of fossils; a paleontologist. Joseph Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. fossilisation. ] The process of converting, or of being converted, into a fossil. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fossilized p. pr. & vb. n. Fossilizing ] [ Cf. F. fossiliser. ] 1. To convert into a fossil; to petrify; as, to fossilize bones or wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, as by fossilization; to mummify; to deaden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ten layers of birthdays on a woman's head
Are apt to fossilize her girlish mirth. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To become fossil. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, beyond the influence of change or progress. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Converted into a fossil; antiquated; firmly fixed in views or opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fossilized sample of confused provincialism. Earle. [ 1913 Webster ]