Mastodon
/ˈmæstəˌdɑn/noun
An extinct elephant-like mammal with conical cusps on its molars.
Did you know?The name was coined in 1806 by Georges Cuvier from Greek words for “breast” and “tooth,” because the animal’s molars had nipple-like bumps that looked almost ritualistically strange under inspection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meh₂-
“breast, udder”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μαστός (mastós)
“breast, bosom”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὀδούς (odoús)
“tooth”
1806
French/Scientific Latin
mastodonte
“a newly named extinct elephant-like mammal with nipple-shaped teeth”
Modern English
English
mastodon
“an extinct elephant-like mammal with conical cusps on its molars”
Explore more surprising origins