Mammut
/ˈmæmət/noun
A genus of extinct proboscideans commonly known as mastodons.
Did you know?The origin of “mammoth”—and therefore taxonomic “Mammut”—is ultimately uncertain, though it entered European languages through Russian мамонт after discoveries of frozen mammoth remains in Siberia.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Modern Siberia
Unknown Siberian source
mamont
“Probable source of the Russian animal name; the deeper origin is uncertain.”
17th Century
Russian
мамонт (mamont)
“Mammoth, especially the enormous fossil animal known from Siberia.”
17th–18th Century
French
mammouth
“Mammoth; borrowed through Russian and other European forms.”
18th Century
English
mammoth
“The extinct elephant-like animal; later, figuratively, anything enormous.”
1799
Neo-Latin
Mammut
“A taxonomic genus name established for mastodons and related extinct proboscideans.”
Modern scientific English
English
Mammut
“The recognized genus containing mastodons, including Mammut americanum.”