spiriferous

adjective

spi·​rif·​er·​ous

(ˈ)spī¦rif(ə)rəs

1

a

: having a spiral part or organ

b

: spired

2

[spirifer + -ous] : containing or characterized by brachiopods of the suborder Spiriferacea

—used especially of rock

Word History

Etymology

probably from New Latin spirifer spiriferous (from spir- + -fer -ferous) + English -ous

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!