ivory

From Middle English yvory, ivorie, from Anglo-Norman ivurie, from Latin eboreus (“in or of ivory”) adjective of ebur (“ivory”) (genitive eboris), from Demotic yb (“ivory, Elephantine”) (compare Coptic ⲓⲏⲃ (iēb, “Elephantine”)), from Egyptian ꜣbw (“elephant, ivory, Elephantine”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈaɪvəɹi/

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• Hyphenation: i‧vo‧ry

ivory (countable and uncountable, plural ivories)

1. (uncountable) The hard white form of dentin which forms the tusks of elephants, walruses and other animals.
2. A creamy white color, the color of ivory.

   ivory colour:  

3. Something made from or resembling ivory.
4. (collective singular or in plural) The teeth.
5. (collective singular or in plural) The keys of a piano.

   to tickle the ivories

6. (slang) A white person.

• Galalith

ivory (not comparable)

1. Made of ivory.
   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 10, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     Men that I knew around Wapatomac didn't wear high, shiny plug hats, nor yeller spring overcoats, nor carry canes with ivory heads as big as a catboat's anchor, as you might say.

2. Resembling or having the colour of ivory.
   • 1938, Interior Decoration To-day (page 132)

     The walls and ceiling of this drawing-room in Montague Square are painted ivory.

• chryselephantine
• eburnation

• odontolite
• scrimshaw
• whalebone
• Appendix:Colors

ivory

1. Alternative form of yvory