English

elephantback

From elephant + back; compare horseback.

A compound of elephant + back

Ancient Greek ἐλέφᾱς

Latin elephantus ‘an elephant’

Old French elefant

Middle English elefant

Proto-Germanic *baką ‘back’

Proto-West Germanic *bak

Old English bæc

Middle English bak ‘the back’

English back

Today it means

noun The back of an elephant.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / elephantback