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
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.