proboscis
noun/prəˈbɒsɪs/
/prəʊˈbɑːsɪs/, /prəʊˈbɑːskɪs/
(plural probosces
(specialist)/prəˈbɒsiːz/
/prəʊˈbɑːsiːz/, /prəʊˈbɑːskiːz/
, proboscises)- the long flexible nose of some animals, such as an elephant
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- the long thin mouth, like a tube, of some insects
- (humorous) a large human nose
Word Originearly 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek proboskis ‘means of obtaining food’, from pro ‘before’ + boskein ‘(cause to) feed’.
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proboscis