colon

colon

colon¹ [kō′lən]

n.

[L < Gr kōlon, part of a verse, member, limb < IE base * (s)kel-, to bend, crooked > L coluber, snake, calx, heel]

1. a mark of punctuation () used before an extended quotation, explanation, example, series, etc. and after the salutation of a formal letter pl. cola [kō′lə]

2. in Greek prosody, a section of a prosodic period, consisting of a group of two to six feet forming a rhythmic unit with a principal accent

colon² [kō′lən]

n.

pl. colons or cola [kō′lə] [L < Gr kolon]

that part of the large intestine extending from the cecum to the rectum: see INTESTINE

colonic [kə län′ik]

adj.

colon³ [kō̂ lōn′; ] E [ kə lōn′]

n.

[Fr]

a colonist, esp. one who owns a plantation