Fos″sil (?), a. [L. fossilis, fr. fodere to dig: cf. F. fossile. See Fosse.] 1. Dug out of the earth; as, fossil coal; fossil salt.
2. (Paleon.) Like or pertaining to fossils; contained in rocks, whether petrified or not; as, fossil plants, shells.
Fossil copal, a resinous substance, first found in the blue clay at Highgate, near London, and apparently a vegetable resin, partly changed by remaining in the earth. — Fossil cork, flax, paper, orwood, varieties of amianthus. — Fossil farina, a soft carbonate of lime. — Fossil ore, fossiliferous red hematite. Raymond.