Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “olifant” come from?

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

olifant (Middle English): elephant; ivory; elephant tusk

Definitions

  1. elephant; ivory; elephant tusk

Ancestry of “olifant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frencholifanivory; an ivory horn; elephant
2LatinelephantusAn elephant; Ivory
3Ancient Greekἐλέφαςivory; elephant
4Egyptianꜣbwcessation; elephant; elephant tusk
Every word from Egyptian ꜣbw →