proboscis

pro·bos·cis

noun \prə-ˈbä-səs, -ˈbäs-kəs\

plural pro·bos·cis·es also pro·bos·ci·des\-ˈbä-sə-ˌdēz\

Definition of PROBOSCIS

1

a : the trunk of an elephant; also : any long flexible snout

b : the human nose especially when prominent

2

: any of various elongated or extensible tubular processes (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region of an invertebrate

Examples of PROBOSCIS

1. <if there were a direct relation between mendacity and the length of one's proboscis, hers would be a mile long>

Illustration of PROBOSCIS

Origin of PROBOSCIS

Latin, from Greek proboskis, from pro- + boskein to feed

First Known Use: 1609

Related to PROBOSCIS

Synonyms

beak, conk [chiefly British slang], honker [slang], neb, nozzle [slang], nose, schnoz (or schnozz) [slang], schnozzle [slang], smeller, snoot, snout

Related Words

pug, pugnose

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, vespine

Rhymes with PROBOSCIS

colossus, due process, word process

pro·bos·cis

noun \prə-ˈbäs-əs, -kəs\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; pro·bos·cis·esalso ; pro·bos·ci·des \-ˈbäs-ə-ˌdēz\ (audio pronunciation)

Medical Definition of PROBOSCIS

: any of various elongated or extensible tubular organs or processes especially of the oral region of an invertebrate: as a : a sucking organ of insects (as houseflies or mosquitoes) that is often also adapted for piercing b : one of the complex protrusible holdfasts on the scolex of certain tapeworms