Definition of: elephant foot

A South African twining vine (Testudinaria elephantipes) of the yam family, having a conical, cormlike stem covered with a barky substance which, becoming deeply cracked, forms large angular protuberances like those on the shell of a tortoise (whence the name tortoise plant): often cultivated in greenhouses. Also called Hottentot bread. Also el′e·phant's –foot′.