Where does “elk” come from?

Elk comes from Old English eolh, from Proto-Germanic elhaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁el-, a root of uncertain meaning referring to a large deer-like animal.

elk (English): Any of various large species of deer such as the...

Definitions

Any of various large species of deer such as the...

Ancestry of “elk”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Middle English	elk	elk, moose (Alces alces)
2	Old English	eolh	elk UK, moose US the largest member of the deer family
3	Proto-West Germanic	*elh	—
4	Proto-Germanic	elhaz	elk
5	Proto-Indo-European	h₁élḱis	—
6	Proto-Indo-European	h₁el-	greyish or brownish coloration; deer, elk;...

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁el- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁élḱis →Every word from Proto-Germanic elhaz →