\Car`bon*if"er*ous\
(k[aum]r`b[o^]n*[i^]f"[~e]r*[u^]s), a. [Carbon + -ferous.]
Producing or containing carbon or coal.
{Carboniferous age} (Geol.), the age immediately following
   the Devonian, or Age of fishes, and characterized by the
   vegetation which formed the coal beds. This age embraces
   three periods, the Subcarboniferous, the Carboniferous,
   and Permian. See {Age of acrogens}, under {Acrogen}.
{Carboniferous formation} (Geol.), the series of rocks
   (including sandstones, shales, limestones, and
   conglomerates, with beds of coal) which make up the strata
   of the Carboniferous age or period. See the Diagram under
   {Geology}.