Tertiary \Ter"ti*a*ry\, n.; pl. {Tertiaries}.
1. (R. C. Ch.) A member of the Third Order in any monastic
system; as, the Franciscan tertiaries; the Dominican
tertiaries; the Carmelite tertiaries. See {Third Order},
under {Third}. --Addis & Arnold.
2. (Geol.) The Tertiary era, period, or formation.
3. (Zo["o]l.) One of the quill feathers which are borne upon
the basal joint of the wing of a bird. See Illust. of
{Bird}.