graptolite

G2R1A1P3T1O1L1I1T1E1
UK/ˈɡɹaptəlʌɪt/

noun

Any of a group of extinct aquatic colonial invertebrates, of the class Graptolithina, from the Cambrian and Carboniferous periods.

OriginAncient Greek γραπτός (graptós) ← Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō ← Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

noungraptolite (plural graptolites)

plural graptolites

  1. Any of a group of extinct aquatic colonial invertebrates, of the class Graptolithina, from the Cambrian and Carboniferous periods.

    The samples were black shale, and on the shales were some ancient fossils called graptolites.

    2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 70

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*gerbʰ-
  2. Proto-Hellenic*grə́pʰō
  3. Ancient Greekγράφω (gráphō)
  4. Ancient Greekγραπτός (graptós)
  5. Englishgraptolite

From Ancient Greek γραπτός (graptós, “painted, marked with letters”) + English -lite.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

graptolite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/graptolite

MLA

“graptolite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/graptolite. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “graptolite,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/graptolite.

Source: graptolite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.