eland, noun
- Forms:
- Show more Also (rarely) eeland, eiland, elland, eyeland, eyland, iland.
- Plurals:
- unchanged, or elands.
- Origin:
- South African Dutch, DutchShow more South African Dutch, transferred use of Dutch eland elk.
1.
a. The antelope Taurotragus oryx of the Bovidae, the largest of the African antelopes, several subspecies of which are found in southern and central Africa; impofu; kanna noun3; pofu. Also attributive.
1786 G. Forster tr. of A. Sparrman’s Voy. to Cape of G.H. II. 204Eland, or Kaapse Eland..is a name given by the colonists to a species of gazel which is somewhat larger and clumsier, though, upon the whole, handsomer than the hartbeest.
b. combinations obsolete
1796 C.R. Hopson tr. of C.P. Thunberg’s Trav. II. 58Eland-boks..were sometimes to be met with and shot.
1822 W.J. Burchell Trav. I. 245The Eland-vogel which was procured here, is a handsome bird, and may easily be discovered by its remarkable clear and loud note.
2. Military. Usually with initial capital. A small armoured reconnaissance vehicle developed by the South African army during the 1960s from the French Panhard. Also attributive. See also buffel sense 2.
- Note:
- Often as Eland 60 or Eland 90, these being the measurement, in millimetres, of the cannon with which these vehicles are armed.
1977 B. Marks Our S. Afr. Army 29The Eland 60 armoured car, with a turret mounted mortar and light machine-gun..is an extremely manoeuvrable vehicle and has a very long operating range.
1988 E. Prov. Herald 11 Feb. 1A black Mercedes-Benz with Bophuthatswana military officials..was forced back by a SADF Eland.
The antelope Taurotragus oryx of the Bovidae, the largest of the African antelopes, several subspecies of which are found in southern and central Africa; impofu; kanna noun3; pofu. Also attributive.
Usually with initial capital.A small armoured reconnaissance vehicle developed by the South African army during the 1960s from the French Panhard. Also attributive.
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