Olifant, noun
- Origin:
- AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, ‘elephant’, probably from appearance, size, and strength of the tank.
Military
An armoured main battle tank, re-designed and re-built in South Africa from the old Centurion tank of British manufacture. Also attributive. See also buffel sense 2.
1983 W. Steenkamp in Leadership Vol.2 No.4, 60The Olifant tanks are thoroughly revamped ex-British Centurions which have been up-gunned, re-engined and generally worked over.
1990 Armed Forces Nov. 30A simulated battle exercise was conducted, using an Olifant MBT equipped with a flail to detonate what appeared to be at least a 6kg mine.
An armoured main battle tank, re-designed and re-built in South Africa from the old Centurion tank of British manufacture. Also attributive.
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