pachyderm

noun

pachy·​derm ˈpa-ki-ˌdərm 

: 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

But these 100 decorative life-sized pachyderms are actually part of a cross-country installation called The Great Elephant Migration, imagined by Ruth Ganesh and The Elephant Family organization to promote symbiotic coexistence among humans and wildlife. —Zachary Schwartz, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2024

There is hope that once Osh, a male, arrives at the sanctuary, the 30-year-old pachyderm will reunite with Donna, the zoo’s last remaining female African elephant that was relocated there last year. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024

But there’s another creature, even smaller, that really does strike fear into the hearts of pachyderms everywhere: the humble honey bee. —Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2024

For the rhinos and elephants, staff fill up large mud wallows with water sources for the pachyderms to roll around in or use to spray themselves. —Martin Vassolo, Axios, 24 July 2024

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

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Kids Definition

pachyderm

noun

pachy·​derm ˈpak-i-ˌdərm 

: any of various usually thick-skinned mammals (as an elephant or a rhinoceros) that have hooves or nails resembling hooves

especially : elephant