[Latin, from Greek proboskis : pro-, in front; see pro2 + boskein, to feed.]
noun
proboscis
n.
The rudimentary organ of an elephant which serves him in place of the knife-and-fork that Evolution has as yet denied him. For purposes of humor it is popularly called a trunk.
Asked how he knew that an elephant was going on a journey, the illustrious Jo. Miller cast a reproachful look upon his tormentor, and answered, absently: When it is ajar, and threw himself from a high promontory into the sea. Thus perished in his pride the most famous humorist of antiquity, leaving to mankind a heritage of woe! No successor worthy of the title has appeared, though Mr. Edward bok, of The Ladies' Home Journal, is much respected for the purity and sweetness of his personal character.
The noun proboscis has 2 meanings:
Meaning #1: (informal) the human nose (especially when it is large)
Meaning #2: a long flexible snout as of an elephant
Synonym: trunk
In general, a proboscis (from Greek pro before and baskein to feed) is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal. The most common usage is to refer to the tubular feeding and sucking organ of certain invertebrates like insects, worms (including proboscis worms) and mollusks. The elephant's trunk is also called a proboscis. An abnormal forehead appendage that sometimes accompanies cyclopia is also called a proboscis. The term is used for primate organs as well: an elongated human nose is sometimes humorously called a proboscis and the Proboscis Monkey is named for its enormous nose.
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Nederlands (Dutch)
slurf, snuit, neus
Franais (French)
trompe
Deutsch (German)
n. - Rssel
ή (Greek)
n. (.) ί
Italiano (Italian)
proboscide
Portugus (Portuguese)
n. - probscide (m)
Русский (Russian)
хобот, хоботок
Espaol (Spanish)
n. - probscide, trompa
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - snabel
中国话 (Simplified Chinese)
n. - 鼻子, 吻, 长嘴
中國話 (Traditional Chinese)
n. - 鼻子, 吻, 長嘴
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 鼻, 吻, 口先
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) خرطوم الفيل, خرطوم الحشرة
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - חדק, אבר המציצה של מספר סוגי תולעים, חדק החרק, חדק הפיל או הטפיר, אף
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Mentioned In | Puddling (biology) | proboscidian |
| acorn worm | spiny-headed worm |
| Bee anatomy (mouth) | elephant seal |
| haustellum | hawkmoth |
| labellum | protrusile |
| More |
