noun
- a mark of punctuation (:) used before an extended quotation, explanation, example, series, etc. and after the salutation of a formal letter
- pl. cola 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
Origin:
L < Gr kōlon, part of a verse, member, limb < IE base *(s)kel-, to bend, crooked > L coluber, snake, calx, heel