| elephantine | Pertaining to the elephant, or resembling an elephant (commonly, in size); hence, huge; immense; heavy; as, of elephantine proportions; an elephantine step or tread. <geology> Elephantine epoch, the epoch distinguished by the existence of large pachyderms. <zoology> Elephantine tortoise, a huge land tortoise; especially, Testudo elephantina, from islands in the Indian Ocean; and T. Elephantopus, from the Galapagos Islands. Origin: L. Elephantinus of ivory, Gr., cf. F. Elephantin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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