- Mammuthus primigenius
- Mammoth Mam"moth (m[a^]m"m[o^]th), n. [Russ. m[^a]mont,
m['a]mant, fr. Tartar mamma the earth. Certain Tartar races,
the Tungooses and Yakoots, believed that the mammoth worked
its way in the earth like a mole.] (Zo["o]l.)
An extinct, hairy, maned elephant ({Mammuthus primigenius}
formerly {Elephas primigenius}), of enormous size, remains of
which are found in the northern parts of both continents. The
last of the race, in Europe, were coeval with prehistoric
man.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Several specimens have been found in Siberia preserved entire, with the flesh and hair remaining. They were imbedded in the ice cliffs at a remote period, and became exposed by the melting of the ice. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
