Rhinariums

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Bare, moist patches at the front of the nose of certain mammals, such as dogs, cats and cattle, which help them sense scents
2. The naked, damp surfaces on the nose tips of many hoofed and carnivorous animals that are used in smelling and touch
3. Fleshy, hairless nose pads found on various mammals, serving as sensitive organs for detecting odours and moisture

Etymology: Dogs, cats, cattle and horses all have a patch of bare, moist skin at the tip of the nose, and zoologists call it the rhinarium. The base is the Greek "rhis" (genitive "rhinos"), meaning nose, combined with the Latin suffix "-arium," which forms nouns for a place or thing connected with something, as in "aquarium." This is a modern scientific coinage from classical parts, not an ancient Greek or Roman term. The plural "rhinariums" follows ordinary English practice, though specialists often prefer the Latinate "rhinaria."