proboscis

noun

pro·​bos·​cis prə-ˈbä-səs  -ˈbä-skəs 

plural proboscises also proboscides prə-ˈbä-sə-ˌdēz 

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 (such as the sucking organ of a butterfly) of the oral region of an invertebrate

Illustration of proboscis

• P proboscis 2

Synonyms

• snout
• nose

Examples of proboscis in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The Tully monster lived before the dinosaurs 300 million years ago and had a fish-like body, with a long, slender proboscis that had a toothed claw and eyes on either end of a rigid rod across its back. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2025

Make that clothing lighter in weight to deal with summer heat, but be aware that mosquitoes can penetrate holes in the clothing with their proboscis. 3. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 10 June 2025

This practice evolved into Cootie, the game in which kids assemble plastic insects with fiddlehead-fern-like proboscises, which was introduced nationwide in 1949 and is still manufactured today. —Bruce Handy, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025

In the center of the contraption, a PVC pipe hung down and curled under itself like a great proboscis. —Matthew Sherrill, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing proboscis

• proboscis monkey

Rhymes for proboscis

• colossus

Kids Definition

proboscis

noun

pro·​bos·​cis prə-ˈbäs-əs  -kəs 

plural proboscises also proboscides -ˈbäs-ə-ˌdēz 

1

: a long flexible snout

especially : the trunk of an elephant

2

: a long tube-shaped bodily part (as the sucking organ of a butterfly) in the mouth region of an invertebrate

Medical Definition

proboscis

noun

pro·​bos·​cis prə-ˈbäs-əs  -kəs 

plural proboscises also proboscides -ˈbäs-ə-ˌdēz 

: 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