fosse

Fosse is a French noun meaning a hollow or opening in the ground. It covers natural depressions such as pits and trenches, and it also denotes various man-made features, including wells, ditches, and sewers. In everyday usage, fosse can refer to a hole, a trench, or a pit of varying size.

In specialized contexts, the term has specific senses. In mining, a fosse is a vertical shaft that provides access to ore bodies. In archaeology, a fosse is an excavation trench used to investigate past human activity. In civil engineering and agriculture, it appears in terms such as fosse septique (septic tank) or fosses d’évacuation, reflecting its broad use for contained or drained hollows.

Etymology and related forms: fosse comes from Latin fossa meaning ditch or trench, via Old French. A related form, fossé (with an accent on the final e), means a moat or a defensive trench around fortifications. The distinction between fosse and fossé rests on the presence of the accent and the precise sense.

In English-language usage, fosse appears mainly in loanword phrases, technical terms, or as part of place names and surnames. The surname Fosse (capital F) exists in various countries; a well-known bearer is Bob Fosse, the American dancer and choreographer.