long-nosed

The compound adjective "long-nosed" is a straightforward descriptive formation from two native English elements. The first element, "long," descends from the Proto-Germanic langaz, which carried the core meaning of "having great linear extent." The second element, "nosed," is derived from the Old English word for the facial organ, nosu, combined with the adjectival suffix -ed, which denotes possession of a quality. Literally meaning "having a long nose," the term's primary zoological or descriptive sense is transparent. Its secondary, figurative sense of being overly inquisitive leverages the cultural association of a long nose (like that of a snooping animal) with intrusive prying, demonstrating how physical attributes are metaphorically extended to describe human behavior.

Structure: long (having length) + nosed (having a nose) - long: From Old English lang, long, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lang and German lang. Functions as an adjective describing extended linear extent. - nosed: From Old English nosu (nose) + the suffix -ed, forming an adjective meaning "having a (specified kind of) nose". The suffix -ed is from Old English -ede.