Also anglicized forms 8 faussee, fossée, -ee; and Sc. FOWSIE. [F. fossé:—late L. fossātum, neut. pa. pple. of fossāre, freq. of fodĕre to dig.]
A fosse, ditch, or sunk fence.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4470/3. In the Night we made the Descent of the Fosses of the Counterguard on the Right.
1727. S. Switzer, Pract. Gard., IX. lxxvii. 366. The digging of the fossee round will go a great way in raising the ground, and making the borders good, which is very proper in all low situations.
1761. Hume, Hist. Eng., II. xxxvii. 312. Having ordered Andelot, Coligny’s brother, to drain the fossée, he commanded an assault, which succeeded.
1769. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit., II. 175 The Orangery … is separated from the Lawn by a Faussee, to secure the Orange-trees from being injured by Persons who are admitted to walk in the Garden.
1802. C. James, Milit. Dict., Fossé in fortification. See Ditch.
