eland

noun

ˈē-lənd 

-ˌland

plural eland also elands

: either of two large African antelopes (Taurotragus oryx synonym Tragelaphus oryx and Taurotragus derbianus synonym Tragelaphus derbianus) bovine in form with short spirally twisted horns in both sexes

Illustration of eland

Examples of eland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Giant East Cape kudu, nyala, waterbuck, and eland are just the start. —Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 11 July 2024

Mary is an eland, the largest type of antelope, known for their endurance, according to the African Wildlife Foundation. —Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Apr. 2023

Clients come to Warthog to hunt (and photograph) all manner of game, from the giant eland to the tiny duiker. —Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2023

The victim and the park’s owner, Richard Berglund, were taking the animals into stables after the park had closed when an eland, the world’s largest species of antelope, gored the employee, Berglund told reporters. —Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 30 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans, elk, from Dutch, from obsolete German Elend, probably from obsolete Lithuanian ellenis; akin to Old High German elaho elk — more at elk

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

eland

noun

ˈē-lənd 

-ˌland

: either of two large African antelopes resembling oxen and having short spirally twisted horns in both sexes