From Middle Persian pyl (/pīl/), from Akkadian 𒄠𒋛 (/pīru/), related to Egyptian ꜣbw Ab-b-w-E26 (root of English elephant).
Cognate with Aramaic פִּילָא (pīlā) and Hebrew פיל (píl). Compare also Old Armenian փիղ (pʻił), Persian پیل (pil), Sanskrit पीलु (pīlu).