pachyderm

Everyday

1. A large mammal with very thick skin, such as an elephant, rhinoceros or hippopotamus. tree →
2. (humorous) A big, heavy, clumsy person or thing. tree →

In the lessons

An old zoology word, now used mainly for fun or in writing; scientists no longer group these animals together, because elephants, rhinos and hippos are not closely related. In the Just So Stories the Elephant's Child and the Rhinoceros are Kipling's pachyderms, with funny made-up reasons for their trunks and skins. From Greek «pachys» (thick) + «derma» (skin).

Examples

• The elephant is the most famous pachyderm. tree →
• The zoo's pachyderms were splashing in the mud. tree →
• The rhinoceros is a pachyderm with folds in its skin. tree →
• Scientists no longer use «pachyderm» as a real animal group. tree →
• The Elephant's Child was a curious little pachyderm. tree →
• Hippos and elephants are both called pachyderms. tree →

Note

Said «PAK-ee-derm». Countable. «Derm» (skin) also appears in «dermatologist» (skin doctor) and «epidermis».