A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420-1488, 1549-1552
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Elephant, n. Also: elephawnt, eli-, elyphant, elephand. [ME. elephaunte (15th c.), -phante, OF. elephant, L. elephantus, elephans.]
1. An elephant.c1420 Wynt. i. 795.
As elephawntys bath fete and tays And as a swyne a tayle he hawys c1420 Ib. iv. 1490.
All his elyphantis thare, And hors and catalle, peryst ware 1456 Hay II. 157/25.
Sum men [are] stark as ane elephant 1488 Treasurer's Accounts I. 81.
A collare of gold maid with eliphantis 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 21/9.
Quhar is the toune of Cartage that dantit the elephantis c1552 Lynd. Mon. 3147.
The gret elephantis of Ynde, Richt strang and hardy of thare kynde c1552 Ib. 3157.
He rydand on ane eliphand [: hand]
2. An ivory horn.?1438 Alex. ii. 1503.
Thay hard trumpettis and elephantis [F. oliffant], Tauburnes and seir instrumentis
