fossil

mastery
UK /ˈfɒsl̩/ US /ˈfɑsl̩/nounname

card 1 of 10 · context meaning

What does 'fossil' mean in this sentence?

I do not want to convey any disrespectful notion or slight when I call those good and learned men fossils, but my experience is that people are apt to fossilise even at a University if they follow the same paths too persistently.