Elfenbein

See also: elfenbein

German

From Middle High German elfenbein, from Old High German elfantbein, from Proto-West Germanic *elpandabain. Equivalent to Elefant +‎ Bein. The loss of initial h- in early modern German was due to the influence of Latin elephās. Since the 19th century the word has been remotivated, somewhat meaningfully (with regard to the pure white colour of ivory), as Elfe (“elf”) +‎ Bein (“bone”).

Elfenbein n (strong, genitive Elfenbeines or Elfenbeins, plural Elfenbeine)

Declension of Elfenbein [neuter, strong]

¹Now rare, see notes.