elephant's-foot

[ el-uh-fuhnts-foot ]

noun

, plural el·e·phant's-foots.

1. a climbing vine, Dioscorea elephantipes, of southern Africa, having a massive, edible, yamlike tuber.

elephant's-foot

noun

1. a monocotyledonous plant, Testudinaria elephantipes, of southern Africa, with a very large starchy tuberous stem, covered in corky scales: family Dioscoreaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of elephant's-foot¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Elephant's-foot, the popular name of Testudinaria elephantipes, a plant of the nat. ord.

From Project Gutenberg

ELEPHANT’S-FOOT, the popular name for the plant Testudinaria elephantipes, a native of the Cape of Good Hope.

From Project Gutenberg