Favosite
/ˈfeɪ.və.saɪt/noun
A fossil colonial coral of the genus Favosites, characterized by tightly packed polygonal corallites.
Did you know?Favosites colonies formed honeycomb-like chambers, and their fossilized patterns can resemble magical sigils even though they were constructed by extinct coral animals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰeh₂wos
“A reconstructed term associated with honeycomb or honeycomb-like structure”
Classical Latin
Latin
favus
“Honeycomb”
19th Century
New Latin
Favosites
“A taxonomic genus name meaning honeycomb-like, referring to the coral’s packed polygonal chambers”
19th Century
Scientific English
favosite
“A fossil coral belonging to the genus Favosites”
Modern English
English
favosite
“Fossil colonial coral with closely joined, honeycomb-like corallites”