snout

[ snout ]

noun

1. the part of an animal's head projecting forward and containing the nose and jaws; muzzle.
2. Entomology. an anterior prolongation of the head bearing the mouth parts, as in snout beetles.
3. anything that resembles or suggests an animal's snout in shape, function, etc.
4. a nozzle or spout.
5. a person's nose, especially when large or prominent.

snout

/ snaʊt /

noun

1. the part of the head of a vertebrate, esp a mammal, consisting of the nose, jaws, and surrounding region, esp when elongated
2. the corresponding part of the head of such insects as weevils
3. anything projecting like a snout, such as a nozzle or the lower end of a glacier
4. slang.
   a person's nose
5. Also calledsnout moth a brownish noctuid moth, Hypena proboscidalis, that frequents nettles: named from the palps that project prominently from the head at rest
6. slang.
   a cigarette or tobacco
7. slang.
   an informer

Derived Forms

• ˈsnouted, adjective
• ˈsnoutless, adjective
• ˈsnoutˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• snouted adjective
• snoutless adjective
• snoutlike adjective
• un·snouted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of snout¹

1175–1225; Middle English snute; cognate with Dutch snuite, German Schnauze

Word History and Origins

Origin of snout¹

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old Norse snyta, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch snūte

Example Sentences

He’s cedar brown, with a black, narrow snout and ears that appear designed to achieve liftoff.

From Los Angeles Times

A couple headed out to rock climb at a remote location found Argon on July 3 with zip-ties around his neck and snout.

From Los Angeles Times

Measuring anywhere from 7 to 11 feet from tail to snout, with dark gray skin and a white underbelly, bull sharks eat everything from fishes and dolphins to other sharks and even the occasional human.

From Salon

Reclining on the sofa, he covers himself in blankets, with only his snout visible.

From Seattle Times

His nose and mouth become a snout, and his eyes turn beady and brown.

From Literature

Related Words

• beak
• nose
• trunk