fossa Latin · revision 30724

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=ine-pro *bʰodʰ-i-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈfɔs.sa]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈfɔs.sa]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fossa''' ''f'' (genitive fossae); first declension^(Wiktionary)

+ A grammarian states that its ''o'' is short.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the feminine participle of [[m|la|fodiō|t=to dig]], short for ⟨fossa terra⟩ “dug earth”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Varro derived it from digging (⟨ā fodiendō⟩).^(TLL) De Vaan traces the verb to [[itc-pro|*foþ-i-]] and [[ine-pro|*bʰodʰ-i-|t=to poke, dig]], cognate with [[hit|padda-|t=to dig]], [[lt|bèsti|t=to stick, dig]] and [[cu|бости|tr=bosti|t=to stab]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it from Ennius on, and de Vaan from Cato.^(Köbler 2010)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A ''fossa'' is a long narrow excavation, a ditch or trench, especially for drainage; in war it is a moat or the trench of a siege line (Caesar fortifies a camp with an eighteen-foot ditch), and in water management a canal (Caesar's channels to divert the Sicoris).^(OLD 2012) Lucretius uses it of any rut or groove filled by the sea.^(OLD 2012) Wiktionary adds the furrow drawn to mark a town's foundations, a boundary, and in Late Latin a grave.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “ditch, trench, grave”.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin uses it for a millrace, a quarry or ore-pit, a dike, and the labour service of keeping moats in repair.^(Niermeyer 1976) English ''fosse'' “ditch” (early 14th century) came through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar of a camp's moat and of diversion canals.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 14th century – English [[m|en|fosse]], through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|ditch]], [[m|en|trench]], drain.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # A [[m|en|moat]], fosse.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A canal, waterway.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A rut, groove; a furrow marking foundations; a boundary.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A [[m|en|grave]].^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A millrace; a quarry; a dike.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fossula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fodiō]]

+ * [[fossīcius]]

+ * [[fossilis]]

+ * [[en|fosse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}