See Also: nostril(medicine)
nostril(dictionary)
nostril(dictionary)
internal nostril(medicine)

nostril (iou)



nostril noun & verb.
[Old English nosTyrl, nosterl (= Old Frisian nosterl), from NOSE noun + THIRL noun1.]
A. noun. Also (long obsolete exc. dial.) nose-thirl .
1. Either of the two openings in the nose in humans and most vertebrates; an analogous opening in other animals. OE.
P. Bowles He..inhaled a bit of snuff through each nostril. C. Jackson A good nose, the nostrils of which flared slightly as if scenting some distant..odour. fig.: Burke Our judgements stink in the nostrils of the people.
2. A small opening, esp. in a furnace, through which gas, water, etc., may pass. M19.
B. verb trans. & intrans. Infl. -ll-. Inhale or exhale through the nose. E20.
nostrilled adjective having a nostril or nostrils, esp. of a specified kind E20.
nostrility noun (rare) prominence of the part of the nose surrounding the nostrils L19.