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#REDIRECT ]
{{Redirect2|Oliphant|Olyphant|other uses|Olifant (disambiguation)}}
'''Olifant''' and its variations (ex. ''oliphant'', ''olyphant'') are archaic spellings of '']''. Aside from elephants, the word has been used to refer to ], ]s, ] made of elephant tusks, or a musical instrument resembling such horns.

It appears in ] as ''olifant'' or ''olifaunt'', and was borrowed from Medieval French ''olifanz''. In Dutch ''olifant'' means elephant. The French word owes something to both ] ''olbenta'' "camel", and to Latin ''elephantus'' "elephant", a word of ] origin. OHG ''olbenta'' is a word of old ] origin; cf. ] ''ulbandus'' also meaning "camel". But the form of the OHG and Gothic words suggests it is also a borrowing, perhaps indeed directly or indirectly from ] ''elephas'' (ελεφας) literally "ivory", though apparently with some confusion as to the animal the word referred to.

The word survives as the surname "Oliphant" found throughout the ] speaking world.
Although, other sources derive this from "Olive" meaning "peace-loving".

'']'' features an olifant horn owned by the knight ].

The word is also used as a name in fiction such as '']'' and '']''.

==Bibliography==
* '']'' OUP
* '']'', (] text, 1972. Translated by Douglas David and Roy Owen. George Allen and Unwin, ISBN 0048410039)

]
]

Revision as of 01:18, 21 October 2009

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