Defn: Having the form or uses of a proboscis; as, a proboscidiform mouth.
PROBOSCIS
Pro*bos"cis, n.; pl. Proboscides. Etym: [L. fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
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 maxillæ, or by the labium. See Illusts. of Hemiptera and Lepidoptera.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: By extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the lower animals that can be everted or protruded.
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.
3. The nose. [Jocose] Proboscis monkey. (Zoöl.) See Kahau.
PROCACIOUS Pro*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. procax, -acis, fr. procare to ask, demand.]