Olifant

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A historical type of wind instrument used in medieval times, typically made from ivory or metal, and also refers to a legendary creature resembling an elephant
2. An ancient musical horn commonly crafted from horn or metal, associated with both ceremonial uses and folklore depicting giant beings
3. A traditional instrument from the past made for producing melodic sounds, while also symbolizing mythical animals seen in various cultures

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "olifant" is that it once named an animal and now names a horn. The word is the same as "elephant": it passed into Middle English as "olifaunt" from Old French "oliphaunt", which traces back to Latin "elephantus", and the Latin word itself came from Greek "elephas", meaning elephant or ivory. The horn sense grew from that link to ivory, since elephant tusks were carved into instruments. The term came to mean a horn made from an elephant's tusk, and in medieval romance it became the name of the famous horn carried by heroes such as Roland. Because such horns were prized and ceremonial, "olifant" kept that specialised meaning long after the animal sense had faded from this word.

Synonyms: horn, trumpet