petrification
noun
pet·ri·fi·ca·tion ˌpe-trə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
: petrifaction
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin petrificātiōn-, petrificātiō — more at petrifaction
First Known Use
circa 1611, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
petrification
noun
pet·ri·fi·ca·tion ˌpe-trə-fə-ˈkā-shən
: petrifaction