Dictionary

oliphaunt en · NOUN

Etymology

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

Meanings

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

Forms