Other forms: colons
A colon is the main part of the large intestine, or the punctuation mark of two dots. The colon and rectum, a colon of two dots, use a colon.
In the body the colon absorbs water from what the small intestine has finished with, and screening for cancer of the colon saves lives because it catches growths before they turn. The punctuation colon introduces a list, an explanation or a quotation.
1nouncolonThe main part of the large intestine.
“Eating plenty of fibre helps keep your colon healthy.”
2nounpunctuationA punctuation mark of two dots.
“Don't forget the colon between the hours and the minutes when you write the time.”
colon is an organ, or a mark.
Greek kolon meant a limb or a part of a verse. The punctuation sense came from the clause, the anatomical from the limb.
Ancient Greek
κῶλον — a member, limb, clause, part of a verse
Latin
cōlon — a member of a verse of poem
English, today
colon
From Latin cōlon (“a member of a verse of poem”), from Ancient Greek κῶλον (“a member, limb, clause, part of a verse”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA