pachyderm

American  

[pak-i-durm] / ˈpæk ɪˌdɜrm /

noun

1. any of the thick-skinned, nonruminant ungulates, as elephants, hippopotamuses, and rhinoceroses.

2. an elephant.

3. a person who is not sensitive to criticism, ridicule, etc.; a thick-skinned person.

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pachyderm British  

/ ˈpækɪˌdɜːm /

noun

1. any very large thick-skinned mammal, such as an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus

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pachyderm Scientific  

/ păk′ĭ-dûrm′ /

1. Any of various large, thick-skinned mammals, such as the elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.

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Other Word Forms

• pachydermal
  adjective
• pachydermatous
  adjective
• pachydermic
  adjective
• pachydermoid
  adjective
• pachydermous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pachyderm

First recorded in 1825–30; from French pachyderme, from New Latin Pachyderma, singular of Pachydermata (plural) obsolete order name, from Greek pachý(s) “thick” + -dérmata, neuter plural of -dermatos “-skinned,” adjective derivative of dermat-, stem of dérma “skin”; see origin at derma ¹

Explanation

A pachyderm is a really big animal with really thick skin, like an elephant or a hippo. If you break this word down to its parts, you see pachy which means thick and derm which means skin. It comes from the Greek, but was first used to describe a class of animals by a French naturalist in 1797. He believed that thick skinned animals all belonged to the same family and categorized them together. We now know to classify them according to different features, but the word remains both in use and descriptively useful.

Example Sentences

“I like the emphasis on blue-collar manufacturing, education,” said Jim Kidd, general manager of the local energy co-op, who listened to Santorum’s Pachyderm Club speech.

From The Guardian • May 18, 2015

He’ll also be in Cedar Falls, before racing off for multiple events in four cities, including a howdy-do at Cecil’s Cafe in Marshalltown with the Marshall County Pachyderm Association.

From Washington Times • May 17, 2015

The Pachyderm Parade, which includes the Ringling elephants, Zingmaster and clowns, marches to the Verizon Center at 1 Tuesday.

From Washington Post • Mar. 12, 2010

He spent last weekend in Galveston at the National Pachyderm Convention, a gathering of Republican clubs.

From Slate

They had to be careful because the decision would serve as precedent for all future Government Pachyderm Carcass Disposals.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy