Ivorie

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A hard, dense white substance taken from the tusks of elephants ; a creamy, yellowish white shade of colour ; carved pieces or objects fashioned from this material
2. The dense pale substance forming the tusks of elephants and walruses ; a soft off-white tint resembling aged cream ; figurines, keys or trinkets crafted out of this material
3. Tusk material prized for carving, found in elephants and other animals ; the pale creamy hue that this substance is famously associated with ; ornaments and tools made from it

Etymology: Ancient Greeks used "elephas" for both the animal and its tusks, so the material was named after the creature that yielded it. The Latin word "ebur" for ivory is probably linked to an ancient Egyptian word for elephant, "abu," though the exact route of that connection is uncertain. English took the word through Anglo-Norman and Old French, where the form "ivoire" developed from Latin "eboreus," meaning "of ivory." The initial "i" appears to be a later addition in French, not part of the Latin root. In Middle English the word was spelled "ivorie," and it was used for the substance itself as well as for objects carved from it.