— tuskless , adj. — tusklike , adj.
/tusk/ , n.
1. (in certain animals) a tooth developed to great length, usually one of a pair, as in the elephant, walrus, and wild boar, but singly in the narwhal.
2. a long, pointed, or protruding tooth.
3. a projection resembling the tusk of an animal.
4. Also called gain . Carpentry. a diagonally cut shoulder at the end of a timber for strengthening a tenon.
v.t.
5. to dig up or tear off with the tusks.
6. to gore with a tusk.
v.i.
7. to dig up or thrust at the ground with the tusks.
[ bef. 900; ME, metathetic var. of tux, OE, var. of tusc TUSH 2 ; c. OFris tusk; akin to TOOTH ]