eland

noun \ ˈē-lənd , -ˌland \

Definition of eland

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

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Recent Examples of eland from the Web

There were white elk and eland, impala and Arabian oryx.

— manny fernandez, New York Times, "Blood and Beauty on a Texas Exotic-Game Ranch," 19 Oct. 2017
There are Grevy's zebras, elands, stolid buffaloes in a dry wallow—and always Mount Kenya, piled high with clouds just now, like curls of meringue.

— paula mclain, Town & Country, "An Insanely Glamorous Love Triangle," 2 Sep. 2015
Breathtaking numbers of weary wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, impala, and eland face this watery challenge during the world’s largest animal migration—a life-and-death lottery.

— nic mccormack, Bloomberg.com, "Why the Great Migration Needs to Top Your Bucket List, in 15 Photos," 28 July 2017
Apart from an abundance of dolphins and whales, the reserve is home to more than 260 bird species and land mammals, including elands and Cape mountain zebras.

— susan hack, Town & Country, "Four Of The Best New Travel Destinatons In Africa," 15 Sep. 2014
Our report alludes to rather healthy other populations: 11,000 buffalo, 3,000 sable, eland—

— National Geographic, "Exclusive: This Is Africa's New Elephant Poaching Hot Spot," 5 July 2016
There is also a diorama of a lion and eland, in skeletal form, fighting it out.

— jennifer d., WIRED, "No Bones About It, This Museum Is Hip," 13 Sep. 2011

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eland.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of eland

Origin and Etymology of eland

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1600

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year