Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Proboscis

Pro-bos′cis

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Proboscides
(#)
.
[L. fr. Gr. [GREEK]; [GREEK] before + [GREEK] to feed, graze.]
1.
(Zool.)
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.
☞ 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 maxillæ, or by the labium. See Illusts. of
Hemiptera
and
Lepidoptera
.
2.
(Zool.)
By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded.
☞ 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.
3.
The nose.
[Jocose]
Proboscis monkey
.
(Zool.)
See
Kahau
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Proboscis

PROBOS'CIS

,
Noun.
[L. from Gr. before, and to feed or graze.]
The snout or trunk of an elephant and of other animals, particularly of insects. The proboscis of an elephant is a flexible muscular pipe or canal of about 8 feet in length, and is properly the extension of the nose. This is the instrument with which he takes food and carries it to his mouth. The proboscis of insects is used to suck blood from animals, or juice from plants.

Similar Results