star-nosed mole

or star·nose mole

[ stahr-nohzd ]

noun

1. a North American mole, Condylura cristata, having a starlike ring of fleshy processes around the end of the snout.

star-nosed mole

noun

1. an E North American amphibious mole, Condylura cristata , having a ring of pink fleshy tentacles around the nose

Word History and Origins

Origin of star-nosed mole¹

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30