Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “olifant” come from?

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

Ancestry of “olifant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrencholifantAlternative form of olifan
2LatinelephantusAn elephant; Ivory
3Ancient Greekἐλέφαςivory; elephant
4Egyptianꜣbwcessation; elephant; elephant tusk

Words derived from “olifant”

  • zeeolifant
  • olifant
  • olifant
Every word from Egyptian ꜣbw →