Oliphant
/ˈɒlɪfænt/noun
An archaic English word for an elephant, and also a large ivory horn associated with medieval legends.
Did you know?In the medieval epic *The Song of Roland*, Roland blows an olifant horn made from ivory, linking the word to both elephants and heroic magical-sounding battle lore.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐλέφας (eléphas)
“Elephant; also ivory, especially elephant ivory”
Classical Latin
Latin
elephantus
“Elephant; ivory”
Old French
Old French
olifant
“Elephant, and an ivory horn; the horn sense was reinforced by medieval literature”
12th Century
Middle English
olifaunt
“Elephant; an ivory horn or trumpet”
14th–15th Century
English
oliphant
“An elephant or a large ivory horn, especially in romance and heroic poetry”
Modern English
English
oliphant
“An archaic or poetic term for an elephant, or a medieval ivory horn”
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