pachyderm

noun

pachy·​derm ˈpa-ki-ˌdərm How to pronounce pachyderm (audio)
: any of various nonruminant mammals (such as an elephant, a rhinoceros, or a hippopotamus) of a former group (Pachydermata) that have hooves or nails resembling hooves and usually thick skin
especially : elephant

Did you know?

Pachydermos in Greek means literally "having thick skin" (figuratively, it means "dull" or "stupid"). It's from pachys, meaning "thick," and derma, meaning "skin." In the late 1700s, the French naturalist Georges Cuvier adapted the Greek term as pachyderme for any one of a whole assemblage of hoofed animals having thickish skin: elephants, hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, tapirs, horses, pigs, and more. English speakers learned the word from French in the early 1800s. The adjective pachydermatous means "of or relating to the pachyderms" or "thickened" (referring to skin). Not too surprisingly, it also means "callous" or "insensitive" (somewhat unfairly especially to elephants, which are actually known to be rather sensitive).

Examples of pachyderm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And that’s not even the weirdest thing about the ponderous pachyderm’s voiceover. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 Natural Elephant Repellent Installing a system of beehives surrounding one’s land also works are a great scare for the pachyderms, as the stinging insects make the mammals buzz off, and also make honey for the farmers to sell. Sofia Quaglia, Discover Magazine, 30 Oct. 2023 Watch the pachyderms move about their habitat from your own personal transparent Jungle Bubble decked out with Christmas trappings. Teresa Bergen, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2023 Yet each encounter felt like a miracle, and none was more enchanting than this pachyderm welcoming party. Tayari Jones, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2023 When temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius, the pachyderm prefers to stay in the shade or immediately in the cooler elephant house. Jeff Goodell, Time, 6 July 2023 His sister, Joyce, is one of the world's leading authorities on African pachyderm behavior. Benjamin Hunting, Car and Driver, 9 June 2023 Zoo staff start teaching elephants introductory exercises when the pachyderms turn 4 months old. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 7 June 2023 Her peeling prowess is yet another reminder of just how intelligent and resourceful pachyderms can be. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pachyderm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French pachyderme, from Greek pachydermos thick-skinned, from pachys thick + derma skin; akin to Sanskrit bahu dense, much — more at derm-

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pachyderm was in 1828

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Cite this Entry

“Pachyderm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pachyderm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pachyderm

noun
pachy·​derm ˈpak-i-ˌdərm How to pronounce pachyderm (audio)
: any of various usually thick-skinned mammals (as an elephant or a rhinoceros) that have hooves or nails resembling hooves
especially : elephant
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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