spelaean
[spi-
lee
-
uh
n]
/spɪˈli ən/
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or inhabiting a cave or caves.
Also,
spelean
.
Origin
1830-40;
<
Neo-Latin
spēlae
(
us
) (adj. derivative of
Latin
spēlaeum
cave <
Greek
spḗlaion
) +
-an
British Dictionary definitions for
spelaean
spelaean
/
spɪˈliːən
/
adjective
1.
of, found in, or inhabiting caves:
spelaean animals
Word Origin
C19: via New Latin, from Latin
spēlaeum
a cave, from Greek
spēlaion