I. ˈkō-lən noun
( plural colons or co·la -lə)
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin, from Greek kolon
Date: 14th century
: the part of the large intestine that extends from the cecum to the rectum
II. noun
( plural colons or cola )
Etymology: Latin, part of a poem, from Greek kōlon limb, part of a strophe
Date: circa 1550
1. plural cola : a rhythmical unit of an utterance ; specifically in Greek or Latin verse : a system or series of from two to not more than six feet having a principal accent and forming part of a line
2. plural colons
a. : a punctuation mark : used chiefly to direct attention to matter (as a list, explanation, quotation, or amplification) that follows
b. : the sign : used between the parts of a numerical expression of time in hours and minutes (as in 1:15) or in hours, minutes, and seconds (as in 8:25:30), in a bibliographical reference (as in Nation 130:20), in a ratio where it is usually read as “to” (as in 4:1 read “four to one”), or in a proportion where it is usually read as “is to” or when doubled as “as” (as in 2:1::8:4 read “two is to one as eight is to four”)
III. kȯ-ˈlōⁿ, kə-ˈlōn noun
Etymology: French, from Latin colonus
Date: 1888
: a colonial farmer or plantation owner