eland

[ ee-luhnd ]

noun

, plural e·lands, (especially collectively) e·land.

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. giant eland
   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

Some animals, like the rhino and the eland, have tick birds that sit upon their backs and eat the ticks.

From Project Gutenberg

So on swept the chase, the eland leading, the quaggas after, and Hendrik bringing up the rear.

From Project Gutenberg

After dining sumptuously on eland tongue and hartebeest tenderloin Burt pushed back his canvas chair with a sigh of content.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly an eland dashed out from a clump of bushes barely a hundred yards off, not having heard their approach.

From Project Gutenberg

Jack fired, missed, fired again, and the eland gave one high spring and rolled heels over head.

From Project Gutenberg