fossa

1
[ fos-uh ]
/ ˈfɒs ə /

noun, plural fos·sae [fos-ee] /ˈfɒs i/. Anatomy.

a pit, cavity, or depression, as in a bone.

Origin of fossa

1
1820–30; < Latin: ditch, trench, fosse, short for fossa ( terra) dug or dug out (earth), noun use of feminine of fossus, past participle of fodere to dig

Words nearby fossa

foscolo, fosdick, foshan, fosphenytoin, foss, fossa, fossa of lacrimal gland, fossa of vestibule of vagina, fossarian, fosse, fosse way

Definition for fossa (2 of 2)

fossa 2
[ fos-uh ]
/ ˈfɒs ə /

noun

a forest-dwelling genetlike mammal, Cryptoprocta ferox, of the civet family, native to Madagascar, with a short coat of white, black, gray, or brown: now rare.
Also called fossa cat.

Origin of fossa

2
1830–40; < Malagasy; compare earlier fossane (< French < Malagasy)

Example sentences from the Web for fossa

British Dictionary definitions for fossa (1 of 2)

fossa 1
/ (ˈfɒsə) /

noun plural -sae (-siː)

an anatomical depression, trench, or hollow area

Word Origin for fossa

C19: from Latin: ditch, from fossus dug up, from fodere to dig up

British Dictionary definitions for fossa (2 of 2)

fossa 2
/ (ˈfɒsə) /

noun

a large primitive catlike viverrine mammal, Cryptoprocta ferox, inhabiting the forests of Madagascar: order Carnivora (carnivores). It has thick reddish-brown fur and preys on lemurs, poultry, etc

Word Origin for fossa

from Malagasy

Medical definitions for fossa

fossa
[ fŏs′ə ]

n. pl. fos•sae (fŏs′ē′)

A small longitudinal cavity or depression, as in a bone.