nostril
UK[ˈnɒstrəl]US[ˈnɑːstrəl]
n
either of the two external openings of the nose.
Morpheme Breakdown
nos
tril
nos
nose
tril
hole
Etymology
the word 'nostril' is a native english compound with a transparently literal origin. it descends from old english 'nosthyrl', a combination of 'nosu' (nose) and 'thȳrel' (a hole or opening, itself derived from 'thurh' meaning 'through'). the term's logic is perfectly straightforward: it is the 'nose-hole'. over time, the middle english form 'nosethirl' underwent phonetic reduction and simplification, with the 'th' sound assimilating and the middle vowel disappearing, eventually settling into the modern spelling 'nostril'. this evolution showcases a common pattern where a descriptive compound becomes lexicalized as a single, indivisible concept for a specific body part.
Analysis
Structure: nos (nose) + tril (hole)
nos: from old english 'nosu' (nose), of germanic origin; related to dutch 'neus' and german 'nase'. functions as the base noun.
tril: from old english 'thȳrel' (hole), a derivative of 'thurh' (through). functions as a noun-forming element meaning 'hole' or 'opening'.
Examples
the cold air stung his nostrils as he stepped outside.
she flared her nostrils in anger at the remark.
the smell of fresh coffee filled the room, pleasing everyone's nostrils.