Pennsylvanian

American  

[pen-suhl-veyn-yuhn, -vey-nee-uhn] / ˌpɛn səlˈveɪn yən, -ˈveɪ ni ən /

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 British  

/ 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 period or rock system, equivalent to the Upper Carboniferous of Europe

Pennsylvanian Scientific  

/ 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

---

Etymology

Origin of Pennsylvanian

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