Coprolite is a noun meaning fossilised animal faeces. The word literally means “dung stone” and comes from the Greek kopros (dung) and lithikos (stone). Usually coprolites are animal manure and, between 1860 and 1890, were mined commercially in Cambridgeshire England and processed to be used as a fertiliser. When you think of it, it’s not that much of a surprise, after all it is fossilised shit. What is also not too surprising is that the word has also come to describe a person who is old, set in their ways and a thoroughly disagreeable arsehole as well. So if you have a boss, teacher or acquaintance who fits that description, congratulations, you know a coprolite.
(n.) A mashup of two words: Corporate, and Coprolite, which is a fossilized turd.
Used to describe entrenched middle management common to many workplaces, especially those members who have been in their jobs too long to be dismissed despite adding nothing more valuable to the company than would an ancient piece of rock-hard poop.
Employee 1: Hey, how'd your new idea go over with the big CEO?
Employee 2: It never got to him. Some corprolite decided he wanted things to stay the same around here and threw away my memo.
Passing middle manager, to himself: Corprolite? Sounds like new business jargon. I'll have to make sure I use that in my next presentation to the board!