Elephantine
[el-uh-fan-teen, -tahyn, -tin, el-uh-fuh n-teen, -tahyn] /ˌɛl əˈfæn tin, -taɪn, -tɪn, ˈɛl ə fənˌtin, -ˌtaɪn/
adjective
1.
pertaining to or resembling an .
2.
huge, ponderous, or clumsy:
elephantine movements; elephantine humor.
/ˌɛlɪˈfæntaɪn/
adjective
1.
denoting, relating to, or characteristic of an elephant or elephants
2.
huge, clumsy, or ponderous
adj.
1620s, “huge,” from Latin elephantinus “pertaining to the elephant,” from elephantus (see elephant). Meaning “pertaining to elephants” is from 1670s.
Used of programs or systems that are both conspicuous hogs (owing perhaps to poor design founded on brute force and ignorance) and exceedingly hairy in source form. An elephantine program may be functional and even friendly, but (as in the old joke about being in bed with an elephant) it’s tough to have around all the same (and, like a pachyderm, difficult to maintain). In extreme cases, hackers have been known to make trumpeting sounds or perform expressive proboscatory mime at the mention of the offending program. Usage: semi-humorous. Compare “has the elephant nature” and the somewhat more pejorative monstrosity. See also second-system effect and baroque.
[Jargon File]
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- Elephant in the room
noun a difficult situation that is very obvious but not discussed or addressed Examples The elephant in the room between couples is often money or what to do with aging parents. Word Origin 1959
- Elephantitis
noun an infectious tropical disease that is a form of filaiasis caused by parasitic worms which are transmitted by mosquitoes and which causes swelling in the genitals or thighs
- Elephant linebacker
noun phrase A linebacker or defensive end who specializes in rushing the quarterback on pass plays: Now comes ”elephant position”/ Paup started the first nine games at elephant, or rush, outside linebacker (1990s+ Football)
- Elephantoid fever
elephantoid fever el·e·phan·toid fever (ěl’ə-fān’toid’, ěl’ə-fən-toid’) n. Lymphangitis and temperature increase that mark the beginning of endemic elephantiasis.
- Elephants
[el-uh-fuh nt] /ˈɛl ə fənt/ noun, plural elephants (especially collectively) elephant for 1. 1. either of two large, five-toed pachyderms of the family Elephantidae, characterized by a long, prehensile trunk formed of the nose and upper lip, including Loxodonta africana (African elephant) with enormous flapping ears, two fingerlike projections at the end of the trunk, […]