Pennsylvanian

[ pen-suhl-veyn-yuhn, -vey-nee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the state of Pennsylvania.
2. Geology. noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era, occurring from about 310 to 280 million years ago and characterized by warm climates, swampy land areas, and the development of insects and reptiles: sometimes considered as an epoch of the Carboniferous Period.

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Pennsylvania.
2. Geology. the Pennsylvanian Period or System.

Pennsylvanian

/ ˌpɛnsɪlˈveɪnɪən /

adjective

1. of the state of Pennsylvania
2. (in North America) of, denoting, or formed in the upper of two divisions of the Carboniferous period, which lasted 30 million years, during which coal measures were formed See also Mississippian

noun

1. an inhabitant or native of the state of Pennsylvania
2. the Pennsylvanian
   the Pennsylvanian period or rock system, equivalent to the Upper Carboniferous of Europe

Pennsylvanian

/ pĕn′səl-vān′yən /

1. The sixth period of the Paleozoic Era, from about 320 to 286 million years ago. Rock deposits from this period of time alternate between being marine and terrestrial in origin, and are rich in coal. Reptiles first appeared in the Pennsylvanian Period.
2. See Chart at geologic time

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pennsylvanian¹

First recorded in 1675–85; Pennsylvani(a) + -an

Example Sentences

The Daily Show host is cool with the Pennsylvanian pop star representing the City of New York to tourists.

From The Daily Beast

Jerry Sandusky, now infamous in the media, joins the ranks of many notorious Pennsylvanian prisoners.

From The Daily Beast

When he led Santorum in the polls, he urged the Pennsylvanian to leave the race.

From The Daily Beast

Today, the Daily Pennsylvanian masthead is at least half female, and the last three executive editors have been women.

From The Daily Beast

"You must be green, or you wouldn't have gone down (p. 288) there," said a Pennsylvanian, who had been in a dozen battles.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a colourless inflammable gas, and is found amongst the gaseous constituents of the Pennsylvanian oil-wells.

From Project Gutenberg

Life was full of zest for her, and she enjoyed it with the most un-Pennsylvanian enthusiasm.

From Project Gutenberg

This is best seen when the life of the Pennsylvanian is contrasted with that of the Permian.

From Project Gutenberg

This substance closely resembles ordinary Pennsylvanian petroleum.

From Project Gutenberg