Proboscis

Proboscis
Proboscis Pro*bos"cis, n.; pl. {Proboscides}. [L. fr. Gr. ?; ? before + ? to feed, graze.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A hollow organ or tube attached to the head, or connected with the mouth, of various animals, and generally used in taking food or drink; a snout; a trunk. [1913 Webster]

Note: The proboscis of an elephant is a flexible muscular elongation of the nose. The proboscis of insects is usually a chitinous tube formed by the modified maxill[ae], or by the labium. See Illusts. of {Hemiptera} and {Lepidoptera}. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded. [1913 Webster]

Note: The proboscis of annelids and of mollusks is usually a portion of the pharynx that can be everted or protruded. That of nemerteans is a special long internal organ, not connected with the mouth, and not used in feeding, but capable of being protruded from a pore in the head. See Illust. in Appendix. [1913 Webster]

3. The nose. [Jocose] [1913 Webster]

{Proboscis monkey}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Kahau}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • proboscis — [pʀɔbɔsis] n. m. ÉTYM. 1906, in Rev. gén. des sc., no 21, p. 955; mot lat., du grec. → Proboscide. ❖ ♦ Sc. nat. Organe en forme de trompe, chez certains insectes. || « On appelle proboscis la partie allongée de l appareil buccal des insectes :… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • proboscis — (n.) c.1600, elephant s trunk, from L. proboscis (Pliny), from Gk. proboskis elephant s trunk, lit. means for taking food, from pro forward (see PRO (Cf. pro )) + boskein to nourish, feed, from boskesthai graze, be fed, from stem *bot (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • Proboscis — (gr.), so v.w. Rüssel …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • proboscis — ► NOUN (pl. probosces, proboscides, or proboscises) 1) the nose of a mammal, especially when long and mobile like an elephant s trunk. 2) an elongated sucking organ or mouthpart of an insect or worm. ORIGIN Greek proboskis means of obtaining food …   English terms dictionary

  • proboscis — [prō bäs′is] n. pl. proboscises or proboscides [prō bäs′ə dēz΄] [L < Gr proboskis < pro , before + boskein, to feed, graze, prob. akin to bous, COW1] 1. an elephant s trunk, or a long, flexible snout, as of a tapir 2. any tubular organ for… …   English World dictionary

  • Proboscis — In general, a proboscis (from Greek προ, pro before and βοσκειν, boskein to feed also known as probiscus) is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal cite web | url = http://www.merriam webster.com/dictionary/proboscis | title =… …   Wikipedia

  • proboscis —   n. (pl. cises or    ♦ cides ) long snout; prominent nasal organ.    ♦ proboscidal,    ♦ proboscidiform, a. like a proboscis.    ♦ proboscidate,    ♦ proboscidial, proboscidiferous, a. having a proboscis.    ♦ proboscidean, proboscidian, n. & a …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • proboscis — UK [prəʊˈbɒsɪs] / US [prəˈbɑsɪs] noun [countable] Word forms proboscis : singular proboscis plural proboscises or proboscides biology 1) a) the long nose of some animals, for example an elephant s trunk b) humorous someone s large nose 2) a long… …   English dictionary

  • proboscis — n. 1 the long flexible trunk or snout of some mammals, e.g. an elephant or tapir. 2 the elongated mouth parts of some insects. 3 the sucking organ in some worms. 4 joc. the human nose. Phrases and idioms: proboscis monkey a monkey, Nasalis… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Proboscis — Rüsselspitze eines Elefanten Ursprünglich bedeutet Rüssel (griech. Proboscis) bei Tieren eine verlängerte, fleischige Nase mit den Nasenlöchern am unteren, freien Ende. Im weiteren Sinne bezeichnet der Begriff die in ähnlicher Art verlängerten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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