Mammoth
/ˈmæməθ/noun
A large, extinct elephant-like mammal of the Ice Age.
Did you know?The word 'mammoth' is believed to be derived from a word meaning 'earth' in the context of its association with underground burrowing and the afterlife.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mamā
“a term related to breast or mother, indicating nurturing qualities.”
Old Russian
Old Russian
мамонтъ (mamont)
“a mythical creature thought to live underground, linking to the idea of something hidden beneath the earth.”
17th Century
English
mammoth
“an extinct species of large hairy elephant found in the frozen tundras.”
Modern English
English
mammoth
“the term used to describe large, extinct elephantine creatures.”