proboscis
noun /prəˈbɒsɪs/
/prəʊˈbɑːsɪs/, /prəʊˈbɑːskɪs/
(plural probosces
(specialist) /prəˈbɒsiːz/
/prəʊˈbɑːsiːz/, /prəʊˈbɑːskiːz/
, proboscises)- the long flexible nose of some animals, such as an elephant
- 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’.