Taxidermy
/ˌtæk.sɪˈdɜːr.mi/noun
The art or process of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals for display or preservation.
Did you know?The word was coined in the early 19th century from Greek roots, and it reflects a very old idea: preserving a body’s outer form so the appearance survives after death.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
táxis
“arrangement, order, putting in order”
Ancient Greek
Greek
dérma
“skin, hide”
Early 19th Century
English
taxidermy
“the art of arranging animal skins for preservation and display”
Modern English
English
taxidermy
“the preparation and mounting of animal skins for display or study”