Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Elephant \El"e*phant\, n. [OE. elefaunt, olifant, OF. olifant,
   F. ['e]l['e]phant, L. elephantus, elephas, -antis, fr. Gr. ?,
   ?; of unknown origin; perh. fr. Skr. ibha, with the Semitic
   article al, el, prefixed, or fr. Semitic Aleph hindi Indian
   bull; or cf. Goth. ulbandus camel, AS. olfend.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) A mammal of the order Proboscidia, of which two
      living species, {Elephas Indicus} and {E. Africanus}, and
      several fossil species, are known. They have a proboscis
      or trunk, and two large ivory tusks proceeding from the
      extremity of the upper jaw, and curving upwards. The molar
      teeth are large and have transverse folds. Elephants are
      the largest land animals now existing.

   2. Ivory; the tusk of the elephant. [Obs.] --Dryden.