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Rostrum \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.