Etymology Explorer › Afrikaans

Where does “olifant” come from?

olifant (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch olifant, from Middle Dutch olifant, from Old French olifant, from Latin elephantus, from Ancient Greek ἐλέφας, from Egyptian ꜣbw — cessation; elephant; elephant tusk.

olifant (Afrikaans): elephant

Definitions

  1. elephant

Ancestry of “olifant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutcholifantelephant
2Middle Dutcholifant—
3Old FrencholifantAlternative form of olifan
4LatinelephantusAn elephant; Ivory
5Ancient Greekἐλέφαςivory; elephant
6Egyptianꜣbwcessation; elephant; elephant tusk
Every word from Egyptian ꜣbw →