\Ros"trum\ (-tr[u^]m), n.; pl. L. {Rostra}, E.
{Rostrums}. [L., beak, ship's beak, fr. rodere, rosum, to
gnaw. See {Rodent}.]
1. The beak or head of a ship.
2. pl. ({Rostra}) (Rom. Antiq.) The Beaks; the stage or
   platform in the forum where orations, pleadings, funeral
   harangues, etc., were delivered; -- so called because
   after the Latin war, it was adorned with the beaks of
   captured vessels; later, applied also to other platforms
   erected in Rome for the use of public orators.
3. Hence, a stage for public speaking; the pulpit or platform
   occupied by an orator or public speaker.
         Myself will mount the rostrum in his favor.
                                               --Addison.
4. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) Any beaklike prolongation, esp. of the head of an
       animal, as the beak of birds.
   (b) The beak, or sucking mouth parts, of Hemiptera.
   (c) The snout of a gastropod mollusk. See Illust. of
       {Littorina}.
   (d) The anterior, often spinelike, prolongation of the
       carapace of a crustacean, as in the lobster and the
       prawn.
5. (Bot.) Same as {Rostellum}.
6. (Old Chem.) The pipe to convey the distilling liquor into
   its receiver in the common alembic. --Quincy.
7. (Surg.) A pair of forceps of various kinds, having a
   beaklike form. [Obs.] --Coxe.