from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Carboniferous \Car`bon*if"er*ous\
(k[aum]r`b[o^]n*[i^]f"[~e]r*[u^]s), a. [Carbon + -ferous.]
Producing or containing carbon or coal.
[1913 Webster]
{Carboniferous age} (Geol.), the age immediately following
the Devonian, or Age of fishes, and characterized by the
vegetation which formed the coal beds. This age embraces
three periods, the Subcarboniferous, the Carboniferous,
and Permian. See {Age of acrogens}, under {Acrogen}.
{Carboniferous formation} (Geol.), the series of rocks
(including sandstones, shales, limestones, and
conglomerates, with beds of coal) which make up the strata
of the Carboniferous age or Carboniferous period. See the
Diagram under {Geology}.
[1913 Webster]