elephant

English

/ˈɛləfənt/

noun
Definitions
  • A mammal of the order Proboscidea, having a trunk, and two large ivory tusks jutting from the upper jaw.
  • (figuratively) Anything huge and ponderous.
  • (paper)
  • (British) used when counting to add length, so that each count takes about one second
  • (uncountable) Ivory.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English elefant derived from Old French elefant derived from Latin elephantus (elephant) derived from Ancient Greek ἐλέφᾱς (elephant, ivory) derived from Proto-Berber *eḷu (elephant) derived from Egyptian ꜣbw (elephant, ivory, Elephantine, cessation).

Origin

Egyptian

ꜣbw

Gloss

elephant, ivory, Elephantine, cessation

Concept
Semantic Field

Animals

Ontological Category

Person/Thing

Kanji

象

Emoji
🐘

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms