Elfenbein

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See also: elfenbein

Czech

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

Proper noun

Elfenbein m anim (female equivalent Elfenbeinová)

  1. a male surname

Declension

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle High German elfenbein, from Old High German elfantbein, from Proto-West Germanic *elpandabain. Equivalent to Elefant +‎ Bein. The loss of initial h- in early modern German was due to the influence of Latin elephās. Since the 19th century the word has been remotivated, somewhat meaningfully (with regard to the pure white colour of ivory), as Elfe (elf) +‎ Bein (bone).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɛl.fənˌbaɪ̯n/, ,
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪ̯n

Noun

Elfenbein n (strong, genitive Elfenbeines or Elfenbeins, plural Elfenbeine)

  1. ivory (material)

Declension

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Danish: elfenben
  • Norwegian Bokmål: elfenben, elfenbein
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: elfenbein
  • Swedish: elfenben

Further reading