elephant
/ˈɛlɪfənt/
noun
Origin
Ancient Egyptian
ab, abu — elephant, ivory
Overview
Meaning Now
- A large herbivorous mammal of the family Elephantidae, characterized by a long, muscular trunk, tusks, and large ears.
Literal older meaning
ivory
Language path
Ancient Egyptian → Ancient Greek → Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
olifant
Earliest period
12th century
Journey
The word entered European languages through Greek influence, where the original Semitic or Egyptian word for the animal became conflated with the word for the ivory it produced. In medieval Europe, the elephant was often known primarily through travelers' tales or ivory carvings, leading to its depiction in bestiaries as a mythical or semi-mythical beast.
Evolution
- Ancient Egyptian
ab
“elephant”
- Ancient Greek
eléphas
“elephant, ivory”
Added the prefix al-/el- of unclear origin.
- Latin
elephantus
“elephant”
- Old French
olifant
“elephant”
- Middle English
elephant
“elephant”
Re-borrowed/standardized from Latin.
Connections
Word parts
elephant
root
large land mammal
Related across languages
French
éléphant
elephant
German
Elefant
elephant
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Related to elephant
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.