Elen

Meaning

moose, Eurasian elk (Alces alces)

Concepts

elk

moose

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Synonyms

Elch

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Elche

Elentier

europäischer Elch

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈeːlən/

Etymology

From Middle High German eln, elent (mid-13th c.). Usually derived from Old Lithuanian elenis (“deer”, modern élnias), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁el-. This derivation is supported by the fact that the el(e)n form appears during a time when the elk was gradually dying out in the German-speaking lands. However, it must be noted that the Lithuanian word does not refer to the elk specifically. Even more importantly, elen (from elhen by regular loss of prevocalic h in Central and Low German dialects) can represent a generalised oblique case or plural of Proto-Germanic *elhô, weak-stem variant of *elhaz. This would make it a mere byform of Elch.