fossa

/ˈfɑsə/
noun
  1. A shallow depression or hollow in a bone or other body part.
    • In anatomy class, we studied the cubital fossa at the front of the elbow.
    • The iliac fossa is a curved area on the inside of the hip bone.
    • The doctor pointed to the fossa in the skull where the jaw muscle attaches.
  2. A large, catlike carnivorous mammal native to Madagascar, with a long tail and short legs.
    • We saw a fossa climbing a tree at the wildlife reserve.
    • Unlike most cats, the fossa has a long tail that helps it balance while hunting.
    • The fossa is the largest predator on the island of Madagascar.
What does "fossa" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean