fosse noun. [fɒs] Also foss. LOE.
[Old & mod. French from Latin fossa: see FOSSA noun¹.]
1. A canal, a ditch, a trench; esp. one serving as a barrier or defence, a moat. Earliest as a name (now the Fosse, Fosse Way) of one of the four great Roman roads in Britain, so called from the ditch on each side, and probably running from Axminster to Lincoln. LOE.
■ R. Graves Strengthening the ancient City ramparts, clearing and deepening the choked fosse.

2. A deep hole or pit; a grave or place for sacrifice. L15-M19.
■ F. Fawkes A deep round foss he made, And on the kindling wood the victim laid.

3. Anatomy. = FOSSA noun¹. M18.

■ fossed adjective (rare) surrounded (as) by a fosse L17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

fossé noun. ['fɒseɪ] Also (earlier, Scot.) foussie ['fu:si]. E16.
[French, from late Latin fossatum neut. pa. pple of Latin fossare frequentative of fodere dig.]
= FOSSE 1.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲