שנהב

Hebrew

Etymology

A compound of שֵׁן (shén, “tooth”) and a disputed second element, probably from Egyptian ꜣbw (“elephant”).

Noun

שֶׁנְהָב • (shenháv) m (plural indefinite שֶׁנְהַבִּים, singular construct שֶׁנְהַב־, plural construct שֶׁנְהַבֵּי־)

1. ivory (material)
2. ivory (color)
3. (dentistry) dentin

   Synonym: דֶנְטִין

4. (obsolete) elephant

   Synonym: פִּיל

Derived terms

• חוֹף הַשֶּׁנְהָב (khof ha-shenháv, “Ivory Coast”)