noun.
Chronic, often extreme enlargement and hardening of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue, especially of the legs and external genitals, resulting from lymphatic obstruction and usually caused by infestation of the lymph glands and vessels with a filarial worm.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.
A name given to several forms of skin-disease.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun.
A disease of the skin, in which it become enormously thickened, and is rough, hard, and fissured, like an elephant's hide.
noun.
A complication of chronicfilariasis, in which nematode worms block the lymphatic vessels, usually in the legs or scrotum, causing extreme enlargement of the infected area.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
noun.
hypertrophy of certain body parts (usually legs and scrotum); the end state of the disease filariasis
Word Usage
"Nowadays, "elephantiasis" is sometimes used for severe lymphedema (a build-up of lymphatic fluid in the leg), sometimes for the specific tropical form of lymphedoma, lymphatic filariasis, caused by a parasitic infestation."