collo

Collo is a common Italian noun that primarily means the neck or throat of a person or animal. It is also used to refer to the neck-like or upper part of an object, including the neckline of clothing. The term derives from the Latin collum, meaning neck.

In anatomical and medical contexts, collo is used to describe the neck or narrow connecting region of an organ or bone. Examples include the collo femorale, the neck of the femur, and the collo dentis, the neck area near the crown of a tooth. The sense is general enough to cover various anatomical “necks,” such as the cervix in some Italian medical phrases like collo uterino (the cervix). The word is common in clinical descriptions and education.

In fashion and textiles, collo denotes the neckline of a garment. Terms such as collo alto (high collar), collo tondo (round neck), collo a V (V-neck), and collo alla rolò (ruffled neckline) are used to describe garment designs. This usage is widespread in descriptions of apparel, jewelry, and tailoring.

Collo also appears in broader Italian idiomatic expressions and anatomical terminology, and it is primarily used within the Italian language. While related roots appear in other Romance languages, collo is not typically encountered in English outside of direct Italian terms.