fossa

¹

[ fos-uh ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural fos·sae [fos, -ee].

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

fossa

²

[ fos-uh ]

noun

1. 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.

fossa

¹

/ ˈfɒsə /

noun

1. 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

fossa

²

/ ˈfɒsə /

noun

1. an anatomical depression, trench, or hollow area

Word History and Origins

Origin of fossa¹

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

Origin of fossa²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fossa¹

from Malagasy

Origin of fossa²

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

Example Sentences

The more anterior fibers insert fleshily on the mandibular fossa.

From Project Gutenberg

The insertion is primarily a fleshy attachment on the mandibular fossa.

From Project Gutenberg

First of all, then, come the civets; and first among the civets is the fossa, which is found in Madagascar.

From Project Gutenberg

The prominences called ‘genial tubercles’ behind the chin are replaced by a shallow pit or fossa.

From Project Gutenberg

The nasal aperture, or olfactory fossa, is very large, and is placed a little below the brain-case.

From Project Gutenberg