fossa

¹ American  

[fos-uh] / ˈfɒs ə /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

fossae

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

---

fossa ² American  

[fos-uh] / ˈfɒs ə /

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 British  

/ ˈfɒsə /

noun

1. an anatomical depression, trench, or hollow area

---

fossa ² British  

/ 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

---

Etymology

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)

Example Sentences

It is home to wildlife such as ring-tailed lemurs, the long-tailed cat, the fossa, spiny hedgehog-like mammals called tenrecs and nocturnal primates known as aye-ayes.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2023

The tendons of these muscles form the popliteal fossa, the diamond-shaped space at the back of the knee.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The greater wings of the sphenoid bone extend laterally to either side away from the sella turcica, where they form the anterior floor of the middle cranial fossa.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Both the temporal fossa and infratemporal fossa contain muscles that act on the mandible during chewing.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

On the septal wall is a small depression like the mark of a finger-nail, which corresponds to the anterior part of the fossa ovalis and often forms a valvular communication with the right auricle.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various