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Webster 1913 Edition

Nostril

Nos′tril

,
Noun.
[OE.
nosethril
,
nosethirl
, AS.
nosþyrl
;
nos
for
nosu
nose +
þyrel
opening, hole, from
þyrel
pierced, for
þyrhel
, fr.
purh
through. √261. See
Nose
, and
Through
, and cf.
Thrill
.]
1.
(Anat.)
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.
☞ 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.
2.
Perception; insight; acuteness.
[Obs.]
Methinks a man
Of your sagacity and clear
nostril
should
Have made another choice.
B. Jonson.

Webster 1828 Edition

Nostril

NOS'TRIL

,
Noun.
[Thyrl or thirel is an opening or perforation; thirlian, thyrlian, to bore, to perforate, to thrill, to drill. See Drill.] An aperture or passage through the nose. The nostrils are the passages through which air is inhaled and exhaled in respiration.

Definition 2024

nostril

nostril

English

Alternative forms

Noun

nostril ‎(plural nostrils)

  1. Either of the two orifices located on the nose (or on the beak of a bird); used as a passage for air and other gases to travel the nasal passages.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

References

  • nostril in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • nostril in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Etymology

From earlier nosethrill, from Middle English nostril, nostrel, nosterl, nosthirl, nosethril, nosethirl, noosthril, nosethyrl, nosethurl, nesethirl, nesthyrylle, nasethirl, nesethrull, from Old English nosþyrl, næsþyrl, nosþyrel, næsþyrel, equivalent to nose +‎ thirl ‎(“hole”). Compare Old Frisian nosterle ‎(“nostril”), modern West Frisian noaster ‎(“nostrill”). Compare also Middle Low German noster ‎(“nostril”), from Proto-Germanic *nustriz ‎(“nostril”).

Pronunciation

  • enPR: nŏs'trəl, IPA(key): /ˈnɒstrɪl/, /ˈnɒstrəl/

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