oliphants

Oliphants is the historic English plural of oliphant, a term found in medieval and early modern sources referring to elephants. In some contexts it also designates a carved horn made from an elephant’s tusk, used as a signaling trumpet. The dual sense appears in travelogues, bestiaries, and romances of the period.

Etymology: From Old French olifant, via Latin elephas, with the plural oliphants used for the animals and, less commonly, the shells or horns carved from tusks.

Description and biology: Oliphants in the animal sense are large, herbivorous mammals of the family Elephantidae. They have thick grey skin, large ears, and tusks. In the wild, elephants live in matriarchal herds, communicate with low-frequency rumbles, and navigate vast ranges across Africa and Asia. Asian elephants are typically smaller than African elephants; both species face habitat loss and poaching.

The oliphant horn: A related use refers to a horn carved from an elephant tusk, often cylindrical and hollowed. Such horns were blown to announce arrivals, gatherings, or military actions in medieval Europe. They appear in heraldry and artifact inventories, sometimes with decorative engravings that depict scenes or symbols.

Cultural and modern note: Today the term survives mainly in historical or literary contexts. Elephants remain significant in art, religion, and conservation discussions; the oliphant horn is primarily of historical interest.