elephantus

ĕlĕphantus, i, and ĕlĕphās, antis (rarely ĕlĕphans, antis, Plin. 8, 1, 1, § 1; Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 196; of the second form the nom. sing., and of the first the oblique cases are most freq.), m. ( fem., Plaut. Stich. 1, 3, 14), = elephas, an elephant. —Form elephantus, Plaut. Mil. 1, 1, 25; 30; id. Stich. 1, 3, 14; Ter. Eun. 3, 1, 23; Cic. N. D. 1, 35; 2, 47 fin.; id. de Sen. 9, 27; Liv. 44, 41; Plin. 6, 19, 22, § 66 et saep. Its tough hide suggests the expression:

elephanti corio circumtentus,

i. e. thickheaded, stupid, Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 80.—Form elephas, Mart. Spect. 17, 1; Luc. 6, 208; 9, 732; acc. elephantem, Sen. Ep. 85, 41; Gr. acc. elephanta, Manil. 5, 706; Mart. Spect. 19, 4; acc. plur. elephantas, Manil. 4, 667; 740.—

II.

Transf., like the Gr. elephas.

A.

Form elephantus, ivory, Verg. G. 3, 26; id. A. 3, 464; 6, 896.—

B.

Form elephas, the elephantiasis, Lucr. 6, 1114; Seren. Samm. 10.—

C.

Form elephantus, a sea-fish, Plin. 9, 5, 4, § 10; 32, 11, 53, § 144; 148.