Ammonite
/ˈæmən.aɪt/noun
A fossilized marine cephalopod with a coiled, chambered shell.
Did you know?The name was inspired by the Egyptian god Ammon (Amun), whose ram-horned image made these fossils seem divine or enchanted to early observers.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egypt
Egyptian
Amun
“A major god associated with hidden power, later often shown with ram horns.”
Late Latin
Latin
ammoniaca
“A term for a substance from the region of Ammon; later used in alchemical and natural-history contexts.”
Late Latin
Latin
ammonites
“A fossil shell named for its resemblance to the horn of Ammon.”
17th Century
English
ammonite
“A fossil shell, especially a coiled one thought to resemble a ram’s horn.”
Modern English
English
ammonite
“A fossilized marine cephalopod with a coiled, chambered shell.”