▪ I. ‖ costa1
(ˈkɒstə)
Pl. costæ (ˈkɒstiː).
The Latin word for rib, applied in Natural History and Physiology to various rib-like parts, also (after mod.Romanic costa, F. coste, côte side, border) to the edges of certain parts.
a. Anat. A rib. b. Bot. The midrib of a leaf. c. Entom. The ‘rib’ or ‘vein’ nearest to the anterior margin of an insect's wing; also the anterior margin itself. d. Conchol. A rib-like ridge on a shell, etc.
| 1866 Treas. Bot. s.v., A leaf may have many costæ. 1866 Tate Brit. Mollusks iv. 139 The disappearance of the costæ upon the shell. 1870 Bentley Bot. 145 One large central vein..called the midrib or costa. 1872 Mivart Elem. Anat. 35 Each rib, or costa, has a double attachment to the backbone. 1875 W. Houghton Sk. Brit. Insects 87 Costa, that is the front edge of the wings. 1882 Syd. Soc. Lex., Costa..in Entomology, the vein next the anterior margin of the wing. |
▪ II. costa2
(ˈkɒstə)
[Sp., coast: cf. costa1.]
Used as the first element in various humorous pseudo-place-names [after Sp. Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, etc. (many of which are themselves recent Spanish coinages from the tourist industry), popular with British holiday-makers], to indicate a resort area, esp. one characterized by the condition specified in the final element, as Costa Geriatrica, Costa del Crime, etc.
| 1968 Guardian 24 Oct. 5/5 The Clyde coast should stop masquerading as the Costa Clyde. 1977 Time 5 Sept. 14/3 This chilling scene, filmed by a concealed police camera in a British nursing home in East Sussex's costa geriatrica, is the dramatic heart of..a powerful, candid documentary. 1981 Sunday Tel. 1 Nov. 19/3 The Anglicised northern Costa Geriatrica of caravans and chip shops and pubs. 1984 Daily Tel. 30 Nov. 21/7 Life goes on as before for the wanted men on the 40-mile Mediterranean coastal strip from Malaga to Marbella, which has been dubbed the ‘Costa del Crime’. 1986 Listener 6 Feb. 42/2 A discount holiday — two weeks to the Costa Cheapo. |