nostril

[nos-truh l]

noun

either of the two external openings of the nose.

Origin of nostril

before 1000; Middle English nostrill, Old English nosterl, variant of nosthyrl, equivalent to nos(u) nose + thyrel hole; see thirl

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for nostril

snout, beak, muzzle, snoot, proboscis, bill, nares, nostrils, adenoids, schnoz, snuffer, horn, sniffer, smeller

Examples from the Web for nostril

Historical Examples of nostril

The nose was long, prominent, and delicately sharp in the nostril.
The Coryston Family
Mrs. Humphry Ward
To drink, its end is inserted in the pool and water is drawn up the nostril.
The Meaning of Evolution
Samuel Christian Schmucker
In its nostril was sticking a sword, about three inches long, of a young swordfish.
Tales of Fishes
Zane Grey
And the smell of peaty clothes smote him on the nostril for the first time that day.
Gilian The Dreamer
Neil Munro
If none of these methods arrest the bleeding the nostril must be plugged.
The Home Medical Library, Volume II (of VI)
Various

British Dictionary definitions for nostril

nostril

noun

either of the two external openings of the noseRelated adjectives: narial, narine

Word Origin for nostril

Old English nosthyrl, from nosu nose + thyrel hole

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

Word Origin and History for nostril

Old English nosþyrl, nosðirl, literally "the hole of the nose," from nosu "nose" (see nose (n.)) + þyrel "hole" (see thrill (v.)).

nostril in Medicine

nostril

[nŏs′trəl]

n.

A naris.