Home US English protrusile

Definition of protrusile in English:

protrusile

adjective

  • (of a limb or other body part) able to be thrust forward.

    ‘Biologists have been fascinated with the frog's protrusile tongue for decades, but until recently the biomechanics of the tadpole's mouth was a mystery.’
    • ‘Like pangolins, aardvarks have a long, protrusile tongue and a gizzard-like stomach.’

Pronunciation

protrusile

/prəˈtro͞os(ə)l/ /prəˈtrus(ə)l/ /prōˈtro͞oˌsīl/ /proʊˈtruˌsaɪl/

Origin

Mid 19th century from Latin protrus- ‘extended or thrust forward’ (from the verb protrudere), on the pattern of extrusile.