nāris, is, f. [for nasis, from root na-; Sanscr. nārā, water; nāsā, nose; kindred to nasus; cf.: no, nāre], a nostril, usually in plur., nāres, ĭum, f., the nostrils, the nose.
I Lit.
α In sing. (poet. and in postclass. prose): et lati rictūs et panda loquenti Naris erat, Ov. M. 3, 675; 6, 141; 12, 253; id. A. A. 1, 520; Pers. 1, 33; Grat. Cyn. 172; Macer. ap. Charis. p. 82 P.; Ap. Met. 8, 9, 17; Tert. adv. Marc. 1, 13.—
β In plur.: nares, eo, quod omnis odor ad supera fertur, recte sursum sunt, Cic. N. D. 2, 56, 141: nares contractiores habent introitus, id. ib. 2, 57, 145: fasciculum ad nares admovere, id. Tusc. 3, 18, 43: mediis in naribus ingens gibbus, Juv. 6, 108: patulis captavit naribus auras, Verg. G. 1, 376.—
B The nose , as an organ expressive of sagacity, and also of scorn and anger: naribus ducere tura, to smell , Hor. C. 4, 1, 21: naribus labrisque non fere quicquam decenter ostendimus, tametsi derisus iis, contemptus, fastidium significari solet, nam et corrugare nares, ut Horatius ait ... indecorum est, etc., to turn up the nose, to sneer , Quint. 11, 3, 80: ne sordida mappa Corruget nares, cause you to turn up your nose , Hor. Ep. 1, 5, 22: omnis copia narium, sweet-smelling flowers , id. C. 2, 15, 6: de nare loqui, to speak through the nose , Pers. 1, 33: Aesopus naris emunctae senex, of a clean nose , i. e. of sharp perception, of fine powers of observation , Phaedr. 3, 3, 14; so, (Lucilius) emunctae naris, Hor. S. 1, 4, 8: acutae nares, id. ib. 1, 3, 30; and on the contrary: homo naris obesae, of a dull nose , id. Epod. 12, 3: naribus uti, to turn up the nose , i. e. to banter, ridicule , id. Ep. 1, 19, 45; cf.: rides et nimis uncis naribus indulges, Pers. 1, 41.—Of anger: Calpurni saevam legem Pisoni' reprendi, Eduxique animam in prioribu' naribus, Lucil. ap. Non. 427, 32 (Sat. 20, 4): in naribus primoribus vix pertuli, Afran. ib. 33 (Com. Rel. v. 384 Rib.).—
II Transf., an opening, orifice, vent, air-hole , of a canal, etc.: inter duos parietes canalis ducatur, habens nares ad locum patentem, Vitr. 7, 4; 7, 10; Vop. Prob. 21; Pall. 9, 9.