nasal index
/ˌneɪzl ˈɪndɛks/noun
1 Physical Anthropol. An indicator of nose size and shape obtained by multiplying the ratio of nose breadth to height by 100.
- The points of measurement, and resulting indices, vary depending on whether they are taken from the head or cranium. The nasal index was formerly used to ascertain a subject's position in a supposed racial or caste hierarchy. It is still used in physical anthropology..
2 Medicine. A measure of nasal discomfort or affliction in an illness or allergy, calculated by adding scores representing nasal stuffiness, nasal discharge, and sneezing.
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. From nasal + index, after French indice nasal.