Where does “olifaunt” come from?
olifaunt (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman oliphant, from Old French oliphant, from Latin elephantus, from Ancient Greek ἐλέφας, from Egyptian ꜣbw — cessation; elephant; elephant tusk.
Ancestry of “olifaunt”, step by step
olifaunt traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Anglo-Norman oliphant
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Norman | oliphant | ivory, elephant; Alternative form of olifan;... |
| 2 | Old French | oliphant | Alternative form of olifan; ivory, elephant,... |
| 3 | Latin | elephantus | An elephant; Ivory |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἐλέφας | ivory; elephant |
| 5 | Egyptian | ꜣbw | cessation; elephant; elephant tusk |
via Old French oliphaunt
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | oliphaunt | — |