n.; pl. Proboscides [ L. fr. Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; before + &unr_; 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 ] ☞ 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 maxillæ, 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 ] ☞ 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 ]
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