rostrum
    n 1: a platform raised above the surrounding level to give
         prominence to the person on it [syn: dais, podium,
         pulpit, rostrum, ambo, stump, soapbox]
    2: beaklike projection of the anterior part of the head of
       certain insects such as e.g. weevils [syn: snout,
       rostrum]

Snout \Snout\ (snout), n. [OE. snoute, probably of Scand, or Low
   German origin; cf. LG. snute, D. snuit, G. schnauze, Sw.
   snut, snyte, Dan. snude, Icel. sn?ta to blow the nose;
   probably akin to E. snuff, v.t. Cf. Snite, Snot,
   Snuff.]
   1. The long, projecting nose of a beast, as of swine.
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   2. The nose of a man; -- in contempt. --Hudibras.
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   3. The nozzle of a pipe, hose, etc.
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   4. (Zool.)
      (a) The anterior prolongation of the head of a gastropod;
          -- called also rostrum.
      (b) The anterior prolongation of the head of weevils and
          allied beetles.
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   Snout beetle (Zool.), any one of many species of beetles
      having an elongated snout and belonging to the tribe
      Rhynchophora; a weevil.

   Snout moth (Zool.), any pyralid moth. See Pyralid.
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Rostrum \Ros"trum\ (-tr[u^]m), n.; pl. L. Rostra, E.
   Rostrums. [L., beak, ship's beak, fr. rodere, rosum, to
   gnaw. See Rodent.]
   1. The beak or head of a ship.
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   2. pl. (Rostra) (Rom. Antiq.) The Beaks; the stage or
      platform in the forum where orations, pleadings, funeral
      harangues, etc., were delivered; -- so called because
      after the Latin war, it was adorned with the beaks of
      captured vessels; later, applied also to other platforms
      erected in Rome for the use of public orators.
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   3. Hence, a stage for public speaking; the pulpit or platform
      occupied by an orator or public speaker.
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            Myself will mount the rostrum in his favor.
                                                  --Addison.
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   4. (Zool.)
      (a) Any beaklike prolongation, esp. of the head of an
          animal, as the beak of birds.
      (b) The beak, or sucking mouth parts, of Hemiptera.
      (c) The snout of a gastropod mollusk. See Illust. of
          Littorina.
      (d) The anterior, often spinelike, prolongation of the
          carapace of a crustacean, as in the lobster and the
          prawn.
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   5. (Bot.) Same as Rostellum.
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   6. (Old Chem.) The pipe to convey the distilling liquor into
      its receiver in the common alembic. --Quincy.
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   7. (Surg.) A pair of forceps of various kinds, having a
      beaklike form. [Obs.] --Coxe.
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ROSTRUM, n.  In Latin, the beak of a bird or the prow of a ship.  In
America, a place from which a candidate for office energetically
expounds the wisdom, virtue and power of the rabble.