Rostral
/ˈrɒs.trəl/noun
Relating to the nose or beak; in anatomy, toward the front end of the head or brain.
Did you know?Rostral ultimately comes from Latin rostrum, a beak or snout, the same root behind Roman rostra, the famous public speaking platform decorated with captured ship prows.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reh₃s- / *rozd-
“a projecting point or beak-like shape”
Latin
Latin
rostrum
“beak, snout; also the prow of a ship”
Classical Latin
Latin
rostrālis
“pertaining to a beak or prow”
16th Century
English
rostral
“having a beak or snout-like shape”
Modern English
English
rostral
“toward the front end of the head or brain; relating to the nose or beak”