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

• beak
• conk [chiefly British slang]
• honker [slang]
• neb
• nose
• nozzle [slang]
• schnoz [slang]
• schnozz
• schnozzle [slang]
• smeller
• snoot
• snout

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

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the sweet trigger caused the simulation to send signals that would extend the proboscis, and the bitter one didn’t. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Oct. 2024

However, its blood-sucking attempts are thwarted because its proboscis — aka its needle-like mouth — could not break through the skin. —Abby Monteil, Them, 8 Oct. 2024

These stimuli triggered the brain to activate the motor neurons that in a real fly would move its proboscis, the insect equivalent of a tongue. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Oct. 2024

These segmented worms—which can grow from about half an inch to 8 inches in length and sometimes stretch to 17 inches—insert their proboscis into their host’s skin to suck its blood. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 June 2024

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

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