taxidermy

[ tak-si-dur-mee ]

/ ˈtæk sɪˌdɜr mi /

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noun

the art of preparing and preserving the skins of animals and of stuffing and mounting them in lifelike form.

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Origin of taxidermy

1810–20; taxi- + Greek dérm(a) skin (see derma¹) + -y³

OTHER WORDS FROM taxidermy

tax·i·der·mal, tax·i·der·mic, adjectivetax·i·der·mist, noun

Words nearby taxidermy

tax holiday, taxi, taxicab, taxi dancer, taxi dancing, taxidermy, Taxila, taximan, taximeter, taximetrics, taxing

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

How to use taxidermy in a sentence

He placed two feeders in the field and rotated a taxidermy of the nectar-feeding birds on each.
These female hummingbirds don flashy male feathers to avoid unwanted harassment|Grace Wade|August 26, 2021|Popular-Science
Putin suggested that all the West wanted was to turn the Russian bear into “taxidermy.”
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The society is a taxidermy academy and literary society, among other things.
Dodo Bones and Kylie’s Poo: Inside London’s Strangest New Museum|Liza Foreman|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some of the stuffed animals that have come out of the taxidermy classes are on display in the new institution.
Dodo Bones and Kylie’s Poo: Inside London’s Strangest New Museum|Liza Foreman|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

That gave participants an opportunity to try taxidermy without skinning the specimen, which some people find hard to stomach.
Edible Taxidermy: It’s a Good Thing|Lizzie Crocker|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kaye says that while faddish taxidermy is still with us, it has taken a slightly different shape.
Edible Taxidermy: It’s a Good Thing|Lizzie Crocker|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Free Book—Yes absolutely Free—beautiful book telling all about how to learn taxidermy.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science February 1930|Various
So when I found that Critch was no slouch at taxidermy and only needed the chance, it occurred to me to take him along.
The Blind Lion of the Congo|Elliott Whitney
On one occasion, we asked Cadet how she attained such skill in taxidermy?
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, No. 383, September 1847|Various
Taxidermy, taks′i-dėr-mi, n. the art of preparing and stuffing the skins of animals.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
Every bit had to be done by ourselves, my brother making the cases, and I the rock work and taxidermy.
A Labrador Doctor|Wilfred Thomason Grenfell

British Dictionary definitions for taxidermy

taxidermy

/ (ˈtæksɪˌdɜːmɪ) /

noun

the art or process of preparing, stuffing, and mounting animal skins so that they have a lifelike appearance

Derived forms of taxidermy

taxidermal or taxidermic, adjectivetaxidermist, noun

Word Origin for taxidermy

C19: from Greek taxis arrangement + -dermy, from Greek derma skin

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