The phrase references a hypothetical scenario: protective plating for pachyderms available at a major home improvement retailer. In reality, while specialized protection might exist for animals in certain contexts (such as horses in historical warfare or dogs in modern military applications), readily accessible animal armor at common hardware stores does not exist. This juxtaposition highlights the absurdity of the concept.
The imagined availability underscores a desire for comprehensive protection and the perceived accessibility of solutions through established retail channels. Historically, armor represented a significant investment and symbol of power. Transferring this concept to a common animal and a ubiquitous store reveals a modern expectation for readily available and affordable protective measures, even for improbable applications. The humor arises from the combination of the exotic and the mundane.
