rostral noun & adjective. ['rɒstr(ǝ)l] LME.
[Partly from medieval Latin deriv. of Latin ROSTRUM; partly immed. from ROSTRUM + -AL¹; in sense B.2 alt. of ROSTRATE, perh. after French rostral(e).]
A. noun. A bony process resembling a bird's beak, esp. the coracoid process of the scapula. LME-M16.
b. adjective.
1. Designating the coracoid process. Only in LME.

2. Of a column, pillar, etc.: decorated with (representations of) the beak-heads of ancient warships. LME.

3. Zoology. Of, pertaining to, or situated in or on the rostrum (ROSTRUM 3). E19.

4. Anatomy. Situated or occurring near the front end, esp. in the region of the nose and mouth or, in an embryo, near the hypophysial region. L19.

■ rostrally adverb (Anatomy) towards the rostral part M20.

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