fossa
fossa Lexical Profile
fossa Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A shallow depression or hollow within a biological structure, most commonly occurring on the surface of a bone.
"During the examination, the orthopedist noted severe wear within the glenoid fossa of the patient's shoulder joint."
A slender, agile carnivorous mammal native to the forests of Madagascar, notable for being the island's largest mammalian predator and resembling a small puma.
"The fossa is an expert climber that primarily preys on lemurs within the dense forest canopies of Madagascar."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the anatomical depression, the plural is typically the Latin 'fossae', whereas the distinct Madagascan mammal is pluralized as 'fossas'.
• Rhymes for fossa
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The anatomical term comes from Latin 'fossa' meaning 'ditch' or 'trench', derived from 'fodere' (to dig). The animal name comes independently from the Malagasy word 'fosa'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.