Măs'to-don, n.

noun

(Synop., § 130), n. [Fr., Sp., & It. mastodonte, from Gr. μαστός, the breast of a woman, and ὀδούς, ὀδόντος, a tooth; so called from the conical projections upon its molar teeth.] (Zoöl.) A mammal, resembling the elephant, but larger, and having tuberculate teeth, whence the name. The remains of mastodons are found in the temperate parts of both hemispheres.

Skeleton of Mastodon giganteus.

An engraved illustration of the skeleton of a mastodon, shown in profile.
Skeleton of Mastodon giganteus.