Palaeozoic

adjective

of, denoting, or relating to an era of geological time that began 600 million years ago with the Cambrian period and lasted about 375 million years until the end of the Permian period

noun

the Palaeozoic the Palaeozoic era

Word Origin for Palaeozoic

C19: from palaeo- + Greek zōē life + -ic

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Examples from the Web for palaeozoic

Historical Examples of palaeozoic

It belongs to the oldest, or Palaeozoic, system of formations.
On the Origin of Species
Charles Darwin
Other Palaeozoic systems are, however, included in the folds.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 7
Various
The Tetrabranchiata were most abundant in the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic periods.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6
Various
Occur exclusively in Palaeozoic strata from Devonian upwards.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6
Various
This has been particularly the case with the group of Palaeozoic corals formerly classed together as Rugosa.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 2
Various