proestrus

especially British, pro-oes·trus

[proh-es-truhs]

noun

Zoology.

1. (in female mammals) the first stage of the reproduction cycle, immediately preceding estrus.

proestrus

/ -ˈiːstrəs, prəʊˈɛstrəs /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of pro-oestrus

Word History and Origins

Origin of proestrus¹

First recorded in 1920–25; pro- ¹ + estrus