tusk
n.n. a long, pointed tooth that grows out of an animal's mouth. You usually see these on elephants or walruses.
n. a long, pointed tooth that projects from the mouth of certain mammals, such as elephants, walruses, or boars. Often used in a zoological context to describe the specific dental structure of these species.
The elephant used its tusk to dig for water.
The walrus used its massive tusk to break through the thick ice and reach the fish below.
While the primary function of the elephant's tusk is for digging and stripping bark, it also serves as a formidable weapon during territorial disputes.
From Middle English tusk (also tux, tusch), from Old English tūx, tūsc (“canine tooth, tusk, molar”), from Proto-West Germanic tų̄sk, tunsk, from Proto-Germanic tunþskaz (“canine tooth”), extended form of tanþs (“tooth”), from Proto-Indo-European h₃dónts (“tooth”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Tusk (“tooth”), West Frisian tosk (“tooth”), Icelandic toskur (“a tusk, tooth”) (whence the Old Norse and Icelandic Ratatoskr and Ratatoskur respectively), Gothic 𐍄𐌿𐌽𐌸𐌿𐍃 (tunþus, “tooth”) and 𐍄𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌹 (*tundi, “thorn, tooth”). Doublet of tush. More at tooth.