tusk
tusk
UK[tʌsk]US[tʌsk]
n
A long, pointed tooth, especially one which protrudes from the closed mouth, as in the elephant, walrus, or wild boar.
Etymology
The word 'tusk' originates from the Old English 'tūsc' or 'tux', meaning a canine tooth. This term is part of the Germanic language family, with cognates in Old Frisian ('tusk') and Old Norse ('toskr'). It is believed to derive from the Proto-Germanic 'tunþskaz', a compound formed from 'tanþs', meaning 'tooth', and the suffix '-skaz'. Thus, its original logic was essentially "tooth-like" or "prominent tooth." Over time, the term specialized to refer specifically to the long, protruding teeth of certain mammals, shedding its compositional nature to become a single, unanalyzable lexical unit in contemporary English.
Analysis
The word 'tusk' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The elephant used its massive tusk to dig for water in the dry riverbed.
Poaching for ivory continues to threaten elephants, as their tusks are highly valued.
A wild boar's sharp tusks can be dangerous weapons when it feels threatened.