adjective

1. of the nose
2. articulated by means of partial or complete closing of the mouth, as at the velum, alveolar ridge, or lips, so that all or part of the breath passes through the nose, as in the consonants (m), (n), and (ŋ) and certain French vowels
3. characterized by such production of sounds a nasal voice

Etymology: ModL nasalis < L nasus, nose

noun

1. a nasal sound or a letter or symbol representing such a sound
2. Anat. a bone or plate of the nose

3. Etymology: ME < OFr nasal, nasel < L nasus, nose

   the protective nosepiece of a helmet