Dictionary

fosse en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /fɒs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /fɒs/ (Canada, dialectal) of the US
• /fɒs/ (New-Zealand)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /fɔs/ US, lot–cloth split, Australia
• /fɑs/ (US, cot-caught-merger, dialectal) of Canada
• [fɔ̟s] (New-Zealand)

Etymology

From Middle English fosse, from Old French fosse, from Latin fossa (“ditch, trench”).

Meanings

1. A ditch or moat.
   • Elberich endeavours to persuade her to become a Christian, and espouse Otnit; and to convince her of the incapacity of her gods, he tumbles their images into the fosse. 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 212:
   • [T]he ground was […] scattered with the masses of ruined buildings, that had formerly been part of the outward fortifications, but of which some were fallen into the fosse, and others overgrown with alder, ash, and arbeal. 1791, Charlotte Smith, Celestina, Broadview, published 2004, page 486:
2. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of fossa.
   alt of fossa

Forms

Deriveds

Fosse Way · fosseway · fossed

Translations (8)

ota خندق (a ditch or moat) · bg окоп (a ditch or moat) · mi awamate (a ditch or moat) · da voldgrav (a ditch or moat) · bg ров (a ditch or moat) · ar خَنْدَق (a ditch or moat) · fa خندق (a ditch or moat) · kmr co (a ditch or moat)