belemnite

noun
bel·​em·​nite | \ ˈbe-ləm-ˌnīt How to pronounce belemnite (audio) \

Definition of belemnite

1 : any of various extinct cephalopods (order Belemnoidea) especially abundant in the Mesozoic era that had internal shells and that superficially resembled and are regarded as ancestors of the squids
2 : the fossilized bullet-shaped remains of a belemnite

First Known Use of belemnite

1646, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for belemnite

borrowed from New Latin belemnītēs "bullet-shaped fossilized rostrum of an extinct animal," from Greek bélemnon "missile, spear, arrow" (probably from bele-, full-grade base of the verb bállein "to throw, hit by throwing") + New Latin -ītēs -ite entry 1 — more at devil entry 1

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