| Nosopsyllus | A flea genus commonly found on rodents. Nosopsyllus fasciatus, the northern rat flea, is a species that infrequently transmits the plague bacillus to humans. Origin: noso-+ G. Psylla, flea (05 Mar 2000) |
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| nosotaxy | Synonym: nosology. Origin: noso-+ G. Taxis, arrangement (05 Mar 2000) |
| nosotoxic | Relating to a nosotoxin or to nosotoxicosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nosotoxicosis | A morbid state caused by a toxin. See: toxicosis. Origin: noso-+ G. Toxikon, poison (05 Mar 2000) |
| nosotoxin | Rarely used term for any toxin associated with a disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nosotrophy | Rarely used term for care of the sick. Origin: noso-+ G. Trophe, nourishment (05 Mar 2000) |
| nosotropic | Directed against the pathologic changes or symptoms of a disease. Origin: noso-+ G. Trope, a turning (05 Mar 2000) |
| nostalgia | <medicine> Homesickness; especially, a severe and sometimes fatal form of melancholia, due to homesickness. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. A return home + pain. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| nostoc | <botany> A genus of algae. The plants are composed of moniliform cells imbedded in a gelatinous substance. Nostoc commune is found on the ground, and is ordinarily not seen; but after a rain it swells up into a conspicuous jellylike mass, whish was formerly supposed to have fallen from the sky, whence the popular names, fallen star and star jelly. Also called witches' butter. Origin: F. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| nostomania | <psychiatry> An obsessive or abnormal interest in nostalgia, especially as an extreme manifestation of homesickness. Origin: G. Nostos, return, homecoming, + mania, frenzy (05 Mar 2000) |
| nostophobia | <psychology> Morbid fear of returning home. Origin: G. Nostos, return, homecoming, + phobos, fear (05 Mar 2000) |
| nostril | 1. <anatomy> One of the external openings of the nose, which give passage to the air breathed and to secretions from the nose and eyes; one of the anterior nares. In sperm whales, porpoises, and allied animals, there is only one nostril, which is situated on the top of the head and called a spiracle. 2. Perception; insight; acuteness. "Methinks a man Of your sagacity and clear nostril should Have made another choice." (B. Jonson) Origin: OE. Nosethril, nosethirl, AS. Nospyrl; nos for nosu nose + pyrel opening, hole, from pyrel pierced, for pyrhel, fr. Purh through. See Nose, and Through, and cf. Thrill. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| nostrum | Origin: Neut. Sing. Of L. Noster ours, fr. Nos we. See Us. 1. A medicine, the ingredients of which are kept secret for the purpose of restricting the profits of sale to the inventor or proprietor; a quack medicine. 2. Any scheme or device proposed by a quack. "The incentives of agitators, the arts of impostors and the nostrums of quacks." (Brougham) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |