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Definition of pachyderm - 3 dictionary results

pach⋅y⋅derm

  [pak-i-durm]
Use pachyderm in a Sentence
–noun
1. any of the thick-skinned, nonruminant ungulates, as the elephant, hippopotamus, and rhinoceros.
2. an elephant.
3. a person who is not sensitive to criticism, ridicule, etc.; a thick-skinned person.
Origin:
1830–40; < NL Pachyderma, assumed sing. of Pachydermata (pl.) obs. order name < Gk pachý(s) thick + -dérmata, neut. pl. of -dermatos -skinned, adj. deriv. of dermat-, s. of dérma skin, derma 1

Related forms:
pach⋅y⋅der⋅mal, pach⋅y⋅der⋅mous, pach⋅y⋅der⋅mic, pach⋅y⋅der⋅moid, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pach·y·derm   (pāk'ĭ-dûrm')   
n.  Any of various large, thick-skinned, hoofed mammals such as the elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.

[French pachyderme, from New Latin *Pachyderma, sing. of Pachydermata, obsolete order name, from Greek pakhudermos, thick-skinned : pakhus, thick + derma, skin; see derma1.]
pach'y·der'mal, pach'y·der'mic, pach'y·der'mous adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pachyderm 
1838, from Fr. pachyderme (c.1600), adopted as a biological term 1797 by Cuvier, from Gk. pachydermos "thick-skinned," from pachys "thick" (from PIE *bhengh-, cf. Skt. bahu- "much") + derma "skin."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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