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'.