/pen'seuhl vayn"yeuhn, -vay"nee euhn/ , adj.
1. of or pertaining to the state of Pennsylvania.
2. Geol. noting or pertaining to a period of the Paleozoic Era, occurring from about 310 to 280 million years ago and characterized by warm climates, swampy land areas, and the development of insects and reptiles: sometimes considered as an epoch of the Carboniferous Period. See table under geologic time .
n.
3. a native or inhabitant of Pennsylvania.
4. Geol. the Pennsylvanian Period or System.
[ 1675-85; PENNSYLVANI(A) + -AN ]