Used of programs or systems that are both conspicuous {hog}s (owing
perhaps to poor design founded on {brute force and ignorance}) and
exceedingly {hairy} in source form. An elephantine program may be
functional and even friendly, but (as in the old joke about being in
bed with an elephant) it's tough to have around all the same (and,
like a pachyderm, difficult to maintain). In extreme cases, hackers
have been known to make trumpeting sounds or perform expressive
proboscatory mime at the mention of the offending program. Usage:
semi-humorous. Compare `has the elephant nature' and the somewhat
more pejorative {monstrosity}. See also {second-system effect} and
{baroque}.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {baroque}{BrokenWindows}{heavyweight}{IBM}{monstrosity}{PM}{second-system effect}]