oliphaunt

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English oliphaunt, olifaunt, from Old French olifant, from Latin elephantus; see elephant for more information.

Noun

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oliphaunt (plural oliphaunts)

  1. (archaic and historical) elephant
    • 1523, John Skelton, “A ryght delectable treatyse upon a goodly garlande or chapelet of laurell”, in Poetical Works of John Skelton, published 1853, page 365:
      The gander, the gose, and the hudge oliphaunt, / Went with the pecok ageyne the fesaunt;
    • 1876, William Curry, Jun. & Co, The Dublin university magazine: Volume 88:
      His mugge so Taste and wide, I wel opine,
      An oliphaunt he might have swallow'd[.]
    • 1954, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Two Towers, Random House, published 1982, →ISBN, page 283:
      ‘Were there any oliphaunts?’ asked Sam, forgetting his fear in his eagerness for news of strange places.

Usage notes

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