pachyderm

[ pak-i-durm ]

See synonyms for pachyderm on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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

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 derma¹

Other words from pachyderm

pach·y·der·mal, pach·y·der·mous, pach·y·der·mic, pach·y·der·moid, adjective

Words Nearby pachyderm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pachyderm in a sentence

In the mid-19th century, the British anatomist Richard Owen modeled dinosaurs on pachyderms such as the elephant, whereas early American paleontologists looked to the kangaroo as an anatomical guide.
How Tycoons Created the Dinosaur - Issue 107: The Edge | Lukas Rieppel | October 20, 2021 | Nautilus
Other than aquatic animals, he notes, few creatures other than pachyderms suck up food using something other than simple lung power.
Engineers surprised by the power of an elephant’s trunk | Sid Perkins | June 23, 2021 | Science News For Students
Whether or not it’s possible to teach an old elephant new tricks, a 34-year-old pachyderm at Zoo Atlanta has recently taught researchers a thing or two about how elephants suck up food and water with their trunks.
Newly recognized tricks help elephants suck up huge amounts of water | Sid Perkins | June 3, 2021 | Science News
O’Connell’s studies of the elephants at Etosha National Park in Namibia have spanned 30 years and make for delightful pachyderm stories, while at the same time a strength of the book is the variety of animals she includes.
In the animal kingdom, rituals that connect, renew and heal | Barbara King | January 22, 2021 | Washington Post
His keepers fed the beast copious amounts of port, Champagne, and whiskey to pacify the persnickety pachyderm.
Zebra Finches, Dolphins, Elephants, and More Animals Under the Influence | Bill Schulz | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

The fuzzy pachyderm figured out how to use her trunk to grab stuff in the first week.
Elephant Calf Lily Rescued by Oregon Zoo | Winston Ross | February 12, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Occasionally he paused at the clink clink of the elephant irons or at the "whuff" as the uneasy pachyderm poured dust on his head.
The Adventures of Kathlyn | Harold MacGrath
They were passing on silent as spectres, the tread of the ponderous pachyderm being noiseless as that of a cat.
The Vee-Boers | Mayne Reid
In the first place, it is evident that we may dismiss from our minds the idea that the Behemoth was an extinct pachyderm.
Bible Animals; | J. G. Wood
He had friends—yes, and they held him high—but seeming and report held him pachyderm, and they trod upon his heart.
Stepsons of Light | Eugene Manlove Rhodes
Their puny pen pricks have about the same effect as mosquito bites on the pachyderm.
The Lion and The Mouse | Charles Klein

British Dictionary definitions for pachyderm

pachyderm

/ (ˈpækɪˌdɜːm) /

noun

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

Origin of pachyderm

C19: from French pachyderme, from Greek pakhudermos thick-skinned, from pakhus thick + derma skin

Derived forms of pachyderm

pachydermatous, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pachyderm

pachyderm

[ păk′ĭ-dûrm′ ]

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

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