'elephantiasis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἐλεφαντίασις' (elephantiasis) derived from 'ἐλέφας' ('elephas'), where 'elephas' meant 'elephant' and the suffix '-iasis' meant 'disease/condition'.

'elephantiasis' passed into Late Latin and Medieval Latin as 'elephantiasis' and later entered English (via Middle English) with the same form and medical sense.

Initially it literally meant 'a condition like an elephant' (i.e., resembling an elephant), but over time it became the technical medical term for severe localized swelling (particularly due to lymphatic obstruction, often from filarial infection).