# Quick ID:  Nose groove

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-id-nose-groove/154360>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 11, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-id-nose-groove/154360 "2003-02-11T15:54:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c77e96/32.png) [@panache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-id-nose-groove/154360/1 "2003-02-11T15:54:57Z")

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Morning Dopers,  
I’m sure the illustrious Cecil has mentioned this before, but my search turned up nothing, and I’m in a bit of a pickle…I’ve forgotten what the word is for that groove between your nose and your upper-lip. It has a very cool name, but alas, I cannot remember it. Help?!?

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**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-id-nose-groove/154360/2 "2003-02-11T15:57:26Z")

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Philtrum

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**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-id-nose-groove/154360/3 "2003-02-11T16:07:24Z")

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Question asked:

Between my nose and upper lip  
The runs a cleft, a trough, a slip;  
A runnel, furrow, gutter, split;  
I wish I knew the name for it.

Question answered:

I have a little philtrum  
Wherein my spilltrum flows  
When I am feeling illtrum  
And runny at the nose.

(Thanks to the late great wordsmith Willard Espy)