dwarf elephant

[ dwawrf el-uh-fuhnt ]

noun

1. any of numerous prehistoric proboscideans that evolved into much smaller sizes than their immediate ancestors, which had colonized islands unable to sustain their larger forms: the dwarf elephant fossils found on Mediterranean, Indonesian, and Californian islands provide evidence for the phenomenon of insular dwarfism.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dwarf elephant¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

The dwarf elephant, thirty-five inches high, was brought into the arena in an ordinary trunk.

From Project Gutenberg

I simply adore them, and I should have liked to have a dwarf elephant.

From Project Gutenberg