aquiline

American  

[ak-wuh-lahyn, -lin] / ˈæk wəˌlaɪn, -lɪn /

adjective

1. (of the nose) shaped like an eagle's beak; hooked.

2. of or like the eagle.

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aquiline British  

/ ˈækwɪˌlaɪn /

adjective

1. (of a nose) having the curved or hooked shape of an eagle's beak

2. of or resembling an eagle

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• aquilinity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of aquiline

First recorded in 1640–50; from French or directly from Latin aquilīnus, derivative of aquila “eagle;” see origin at eagle, -ine ¹

Explanation

Aquiline means like an eagle, so if someone tells you you have an aquiline nose, it means your nose looks like an eagle’s beak. Believe it or not, this is a compliment. Aquiline comes from the Latin word aquila, for eagle. The ancient Greeks and Romans were crazy about eagles, and thought that if you saw an eagle flying on a significant day, like a battle, it was a sign that you were going to win. So it was a big compliment to say someone’s features were aquiline. It almost always refers to a long, curving nose. We also call it a "Roman nose."