1 the long flexible trunk or snout of some mammals, e.g. an elephant or tapir.
2 the elongated mouth parts of some insects.
3 the sucking organ in some worms.
4 joc. the human nose.
Phrases and idioms:
proboscis monkey a monkey, Nasalis larvatus, native to Borneo, the male of which has a large pendulous nose.
Derivatives:
proboscidiferous adj. proboscidiform adj.
Etymology: L proboscis -cidis f. Gk proboskis f. probosko (as PRO-(2), bosko feed)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.