eland

[ee-luhnd]

noun

plural

elands ,

plural

eland .

1. either of two large African antelopes of the genus Taurotragus, having long, spirally twisted horns: now rare.

eland

/ ˈiːlənd /

noun

1. a large spiral-horned antelope, Taurotragus oryx, inhabiting bushland in eastern and southern Africa. It has a dewlap and a hump on the shoulders and is light brown with vertical white stripes

2. a similar but larger animal, T. derbianus, living in wooded areas of central and W Africa

Word History and Origins

Origin of eland¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from Afrikaans, from Dutch eland “elk” ( Middle Dutch elen, elant ), from early modern German Elen(d), probably from Lithuanian éllenis (now élnis; akin to Old Church Slavonic jelenĭ “stag”) or an Old Prussian equivalent; akin to elk

Word History and Origins

Origin of eland¹

C18: via Afrikaans from Dutch eland elk; related to Old Slavonic jeleni stag, Greek ellos fawn

Example Sentences

For instance, rock art in Zimbabwe mainly depicts kudu antelopes, she says, whereas similar San sites in nearby South Africa focus on another antelope, the eland.

Read more on Science Magazine

"The Ministry will contribute 723 animals comprising 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 100 blue wilderbeast, 300 zebras, 83 elephants and 100 elands," the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said in a statement.

Read more on Salon

“The older brother ran ahead. He came upon a dead eland and immediately cut it up into steaks. ‘How could you be so foolish?’ cried Biri when she saw what he had done.

Read more on Literature

He’s currently expecting a shipment of 15 animal trophies from a recent hunting trip in Africa, including heads of sable and eland antelopes.

Read more on The Guardian

She had already been to the island herself, camping among pythons and eland antelope.

Read more on Los Angeles Times