>OK, here it is from the expert (Webster' New World Dictionary, 2nd College
>Edition)
>fossil n. [Fr. fossile <L. fossilis, dug out, dug up <fossus, pp. of fodere,
>to dig up < IE. base *bhedh-, todig in the earth, whence W. bedd, grave, OE.
>bedd, BED]  1. originally, any rock or mineral dug out of the earth  2. any
>hardened remains or traces of plant or animal life of some previous
>geological period, preserved in rock formations in the earth's crust  3.
>anything fossilized or like a fossil  4. a person who is old-fashioned or
>has outmoded, fixed ideas.
>(Yeah, I know part 4 doesn't apply to any of us :-))
>
>John Jacobs
>Seffner, Florida
>[log in to unmask]

Sorry, dictionaries do NOT define scientific terms. They are often
wrong. And fossils are often SOFTER then the bone or shell was when
living, due to leaching of the carbonate or phosphate by groundwater.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<[log in to unmask]>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
I want your sinistral gastropods!
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Q: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation.
A: Why is top posting frowned upon?