Word Study
nostril
CIDE DICTIONARY
nostril, n. [OE. nosethril, nosethirl, AS. nos; nos for nosu nose + opening, hole, from pierced, for , fr. purh through. Nose, and Through, and cf. Thrill.].
- One of the external openings of the nose, which give passage to the air breathed and to secretions from the nose and eyes; one of the anterior nares. [1913 Webster]" In sperm whales, porpoises, and allied animals, there is only one nostril, which is situated on the top of the head and called a spiracle." [1913 Webster]
- Perception; insight; acuteness. [1913 Webster]"Methinks a man
Of your sagacity and clear nostril should
Have made another choice." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
nostril, n. either of two external openings of the nasal cavity in vertebrates that admit air to the lungs and smells to the olfactory nerves.
Derivative
nostrilled adj. (also in comb.).
Etymology
OE nosthyrl, nosterl f. nosu NOSE + thyr(e)l hole: cf. THRILL
THESAURUS
nostril
air duct, air hole, air passage, air shaft, air tube, airway, antlia, beak, beezer, bill, blowhole, breathing hole, bugle, conk, louver, louverwork, muffle, muzzle, nares, naris, neb, nib, nose, nostrils, nozzle, olfactories, olfactory area, olfactory cell, olfactory nerves, olfactory organ, olfactory pit, pecker, proboscis, rhinarium, rostrum, schnozzle, shaft, smeller, snoot, snout, spilehole, spiracle, touchhole, transom, trunk, vent, ventage, venthole, ventiduct, ventilating shaft, ventilator, wind tunnelROGET THESAURUS
nostril
Airpipe
N airpipe, air pipe, air tube, airhole, blowhole, breathinghole, venthole, shaft, flue, chimney, funnel, vent, nostril, nozzle, throat, weasand, trachea, bronchus, bronchia, larynx, tonsils, windpipe, spiracle, ventiduct, ventilator, louvre, jalousie, Venetian blinds, blowpipe, pipe, jhilmil, smokestack, screen, window screen, ' artificial lung, iron lung, heart and lung machine.For further exploring for "nostril" in Webster Dictionary Online
