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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
proboscis
    n 1: the human nose (especially when it is large)
    2: a long flexible snout as of an elephant [syn: proboscis,
       trunk]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Proboscis \Pro*bos"cis\, n.; pl. Proboscides. [L. fr. Gr. ?; ?
   before + ? 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.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: 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
         maxill[ae], or by the labium. See Illusts. of
         Hemiptera and Lepidoptera.
         [1913 Webster]

   2. (Zool.) By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth
      organs of the lower animals that can be everted or
      protruded.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note: 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.
         [1913 Webster]

   3. The nose. [Jocose]
      [1913 Webster]

   Proboscis monkey. (Zool.) See Kahau.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906)
PROBOSCIS, n.  The rudimentary organ of an elephant which serves him
in place of the knife-and-fork that Evolution has as yet denied him. 
For purposes of humor it is popularly called a trunk.
    Asked how he knew that an elephant was going on a journey, the
illustrious Jo. Miller cast a reproachful look upon his tormentor, and
answered, absently:  "When it is ajar," and threw himself from a high
promontory into the sea.  Thus perished in his pride the most famous
humorist of antiquity, leaving to mankind a heritage of woe!  No
successor worthy of the title has appeared, though Mr. Edward Bok, of
_The Ladies' Home Journal_, is much respected for the purity and
sweetness of his personal character.


Thesaurus Results for proboscis:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
antlia, beak, beezer, bill, bugle, conk, muffle, muzzle, nares, neb, nib, nose, nostrils, nozzle, olfactory organ, pecker, rhinarium, rostrum, schnozzle, smeller, snoot, snout, trunk
Common Misspellings >
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