ammonite

Meanings

1. Any of an extinct group of cephalopods of the subclass Ammonoidea; a fossil shell of such an animal.

1. An explosive prepared from a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate; a form of amatol, popular in Eastern Europe and China.

1. A native or inhabitant of Ammon.

1. Of or pertaining to the Ammonites.

1. The extinct Canaanite language of the Ammonite people who used to live in modern-day northwest Jordan, and after whom its capital Amman is named. Extinct since 5th century BCE.

Etymology

From French ammonite, from Latin Ammōnis (cornū) (“horn of Ammon”), as it was called by Pliny the Elder in reference to coiling ram horns used to symbolise the Egyptian god Amun. Equivalent to Ammon + -ite.