Tertiary age

Tertiary \Ter"ti*a*ry\, a. [L. tertiarius containing a third
   part, fr. tertius third: cf. F. tertiaire. See {Tierce}.]
   1. Being of the third formation, order, or rank; third; as, a
      tertiary use of a word. --Trench.
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   2. (Chem.) Possessing some quality in the third degree;
      having been subjected to the substitution of three atoms
      or radicals; as, a tertiary alcohol, amine, or salt. Cf.
      {Primary}, and {Secondary}.
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   3. (Geol.) Later than, or subsequent to, the Secondary.
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   4. (Zool.) Growing on the innermost joint of a bird's wing;
      tertial; -- said of quills.
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   {Tertiary age}. (Geol.) See under {Age}, 8.

   {Tertiary color}, a color produced by the mixture of two
      secondaries. "The so-called tertiary colors are citrine,
      russet, and olive." --Fairholt.

   {Tertiary period}. (Geol.)
      (a) The first period of the age of mammals, or of the
          Cenozoic era.
      (b) The rock formation of that period; -- called also
          {Tertiary formation}. See the Chart of {Geology}.

   {Tertiary syphilis} (Med.), the third and last stage of
      syphilis, in which it invades the bones and internal
      organs.
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