Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Carboniferous
Carˊbon-if′er-ous
(kärˊbŏn-ĭf′ẽr-ŭs)
, Adj.
[
Carbon
+ -ferous
.] Producing or containing carbon or coal.
Carboniferous age
(Geol.)
, the age immediately following the Devonian, or Age of fishes, and characterized by the vegetation which formed the coal beds. This age embraces three periods, the Subcarboniferous, the Carboniferous, and Permian. See
– Age of acrogens
, under Acrogen
. Carboniferous formation
(Geol.)
, the series of rocks (including sandstones, shales, limestones, and conglomerates, with beds of coal) which make up the strata of the
Carboniferous age
or Carboniferous period
. See the Diagram under Geology
.Webster 1828 Edition
Carboniferous
CARBONIFEROUS
,Adj.