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proboscis

Syllabification: (pro·bos·cis)
Definition of proboscis

noun (plural proboscises, proboscides /-ˈbäsəˌdēz/, or probosces /-ˈbäsēz/)

  • the nose of a mammal, especially when it is long and mobile, such as the trunk of an elephant or the snout of a tapir.
  • Entomology (in many insects) an elongated sucking mouthpart that is typically tubular and flexible.
  • Zoology (in some worms) an extensible tubular sucking organ.

Origin:

early 17th century: via Latin from Greek proboskis 'means of obtaining food', from pro 'before' + boskein '(cause to) feed'

proboscis in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of proboscis in the British & World English dictionary
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