-colecomb. form

Etymology: < classical Latin -cola inhabitant (in e.g. terricola : see terricole adj.) < colere to inhabit (see cult n.). Compare French -cole , forming adjectives (in e.g. monticole ( < Latin: see monticolous adj.), herbicole (see herbicolous adj.), and paludicole paludicole adj.). Compare -colous comb. form.Adjective formations are found from at least the first half of the 19th cent., earliest after classical Latin and post-classical Latin nouns in -cola (e.g. terricole adj.). Independent formations are found from at least the second half of the 19th cent. (e.g. calcicole adj.). Some of the earliest formations are later than synonymous adjectives in -colous comb. form. Compare earlier pratincole n., formed with a related second element. Noun formations without a corresponding earlier adjective in -cole appear from at least the mid 20th cent. (e.g. nidicole n.). Classical Latin -cola also forms nouns in the senses ‘someone who tills’ (in e.g. agricola agricole n.), and ‘someone who worships’ (in e.g. plēbicola plebicolist n.), but English -cole has never been productive in either of these senses.