older form of Colisée: Colosseum (the largest stadium in the Roman empire, located near the center of Rome)
“COLISÉE, par corruption pour le Coloſſée. C’eſt ainſi qu’on nomme aujourd’hui les reſtes du plus grand & du plus magnifique de tous les amphithéatres Romains. Il avoit été commencé par Veſpaſien, & fut achevé par ſon fils Titus. On l’appelloit Coloſſée, à cauſe de la ſtatue coloſſale de Néron qui étoit auprès de cet amphithéatre.” — COLISEUM, a corrupted form of Colosseum. This is the name now given to the remains of the largest and most magnificent of all the Roman amphitheaters. It was begun by Vespasian and completed by his son Titus. It was called the Colosseum because of the colossal statue of Nero that stood near this amphitheater.
Inherited from Middle French Colossee, from Latin Colossēum. By surface analysis, colosse + -ée.