Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

nasal index

American  

noun

  1. Craniometry. (of the skull) the ratio of the distance from nasion to the lower margin of the nasal aperture to that of the maximum breadth of the nasal aperture.

  2. Cephalometry. (of the head) the ratio of the maximum breadth of the external nose to its height from the nasal root to where the septum is confluent with the upper lip.


nasal index British  

noun

  1. the ratio of the widest part of the nose to its length multiplied by 100

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of nasal index

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This tool was first suggested more than 100 years ago by French physician and anthropologist Paul Topinard, who divided the width of the nose from its widest portion at the base by its height and called the result the nasal index.

From Nature

The average nasal index is 84 with extremes of 71.4 and 100.

From Project Gutenberg

The stature, arm-reach, and cephalic and nasal indices of these Igorot are arranged below: Height Arm-reach Cephalic Index Nasal Index 1481 1489 83.0 82.9 1490 1550 75.7 85.8 1496 1532 78.9 104.8 1499 1556 79.7 83.3 1500 1567 76.8 83.5 1512 1588 87.5 75.0 1522 1583 76.0 89.4 1546 1602 81.2 97.7 1596 1564 82.3 79.1 1615 1647 96.3 105.0 Of these statures all but one are “short,” or below 1600.

From Project Gutenberg

The nasal index shows wide variation from 75 to 105, the mean being about 85.

From Project Gutenberg

The nasal index varies from 84 to 140—a truly astonishing series of noses!

From Project Gutenberg