‖n.; pl. fossæ [ L., a ditch. See Fosse. ] (Anat.) A pit, groove, cavity, or depression, of greater or less depth; as, the temporal fossa on the side of the skull; the nasal fossæ containing the nostrils in most birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. fossane. ] (Zool.) A species of civet (Viverra fossa) resembling the genet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. fossa, fr. fodere, fossum, to dig. ] 1. (Fort.) A ditch or moat. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) See Fossa. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fosse road. See Fosseway. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A faucet. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., dim. of fosse a fosse. ] 1. A little hollow; hence, a dimple. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) A small, deep-centered ulcer of the transparent cornea. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One of the great military roads constructed by the Romans in England and other parts of Europe; -- so called from the fosse or ditch on each side for keeping it dry. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Dial. E. fossick, fossuck, a troublesome person, fussick to potter over one's work, fussock to bustle about; of uncertain origin. Cf. Fuss. ] 1. (Mining) To search for gold by picking at stone or earth or among roots in isolated spots, picking over abandoned workings, etc.; hence, to steal gold or auriferous matter from another's claim. [ Australia ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. To search about; to rummage.

A man who has fossicked in nature's byways. D. Macdonald. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. fossilis, fr. fodere to dig: cf. F. fossile. See Fosse. ] 1. Dug out of the earth; as, fossil coal; fossil salt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. preserved from a previous geological age; as, fossil water from deep wells; -- usually implying that the object so described has had its substance modified by long residence in the ground, but also used (as with fossil water) in cases where chemical composition is not altered. [ PJC ]

3. (Paleon.) Like or pertaining to fossils; contained in rocks, whether petrified or not; as, fossil plants, shells. [ 1913 Webster ]

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,
Fossil flax,
Fossil paper, or
Fossil wood, varieties of amianthus. --
Fossil farina, a soft carbonate of lime. --
Fossil ore, fossiliferous red hematite. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A substance dug from the earth. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly all minerals were called fossils, but the word is now restricted to express the remains of animals and plants found buried in the earth. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Paleon.) The remains of an animal or plant found in stratified rocks. Most fossils belong to extinct species, but many of the later ones belong to species still living. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A person whose views and opinions are extremely antiquated; one whose sympathies are with a former time rather than with the present. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Fossil + -ferous. ] (Paleon.) Containing or composed of fossils. [ 1913 Webster ]