Proboscis

Pronunciation

• IPA: /proʊˈbÉ’sɪs/

Origin

From Latin proboscis, from Ancient Greek προβοσκίς "elephant's trunk," literally "means for taking food," from προ "forward" + βόσκειν "to nourish, feed," from βόσκεσςθαι "graze, be fed," from the root *bot (cf. βοτάνη "grass, fodder); more at botany.

Full definition of proboscis

Noun

1. (anatomy) An elongated tube from the head or connected to the mouth, of an animal.
1. The tubular feeding and sucking organ of certain invertebrates like insects, worms and molluscs.
2. The trunk of an elephant.
2. (informal, mildly jocular) A large or lengthy human nose.

Derived terms

• proboscis monkey