belemnite

[ bel-uhm-nahyt ]

noun

, Paleontology.

1. a conical fossil, several inches long, consisting of the internal calcareous rod of an extinct animal allied to the cuttlefish; a thunderstone.

belemnite

/ ˈbɛləmˌnaɪt /

noun

1. any extinct marine cephalopod mollusc of the order Belemnoidea , related to the cuttlefish
2. the long pointed conical internal shell of any of these animals: a common Mesozoic fossil

belemnite

/ bĕl′əm-nīt′ /

1. Any of various extinct cephalopod mollusks of the order Belemnoidea that lived from the Triassic into the Tertiary Period. Belemnites had a large, cone-shaped internal shell with a complex structure that served as a support for muscles and as a hydrostatic device. Belemnites were closely related to the present-day squids and cuttlefishes.
2. The fossilized internal shell of one of these cephalopods. Belemnites are used as index fossils .

Word History and Origins

Origin of belemnite¹

1640–50; < French bélemnite, equivalent to Greek bélemn ( on ) a dart (noun derivative from base of bállein to throw) + French -ite -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of belemnite¹

C17: from Greek belemnon dart

Example Sentences

The very form of the belemnite at once suggests the notion of a dart or lance-head, which has gained for it its scientific name.

From Project Gutenberg

Indeed, I have had two thunderbolts shown me at once, one of which was a large belemnite, and the other a modern Indian tomahawk.

From Project Gutenberg

No species of Belemnite at present known agreeing with the description; it is supposed to have been taken from a broken specimen.

From Project Gutenberg

De Montfort's figure of this genus appears as if it had been drawn from the nucleus of a Belemnite.

From Project Gutenberg

As a genus it holds a place intermediate between the Cuttle-fish and the Belemnite.

From Project Gutenberg