col

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French col, from Latin collum (“neck”). Doublet of collum.

noun

1. (geography) A dip on a mountain ridge between two peaks.
   We spent half an hour on the summit before returning to our camp, where we stuffed the frozen tent and all the gear into our packs and started the long descent of the southwest ridge to rejoin Harish and others who were still encamped on the col at the foot of it. 1999, Harish Kapadia, “Ascents in the Panch Chuli Group”, in Across Peaks & Passes in Kumaun Himalaya, New Delhi: Indus Publishing Company, page 136
   Turn left through a gate in the right angle of the wall and drop down to a col before climbing up the hill. 2019, Alan Staniforth, Cleveland Way, page 74
2. (meteorology) A pressure region between two anticyclones and two low-pressure regions.

Etymology 2

Abbreviation

noun

1. Clipping of column.
2. Abbreviation of color.