elan

n. [ F. églantine, fr. OF. aiglent brier, hip tree, fr. (assumed) LL. acuculentus, fr. a dim. of L. acus needle; cf. F. aiguille needle. Cf. Aglet. ] (Bot.) (a) A species of rose (Rosa Eglanteria), with fragrant foliage and flowers of various colors. (b) The sweetbrier (R. rubiginosa). [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Milton, in the following lines, has applied the name to some twining plant, perhaps the honeysuckle. [ 1913 Webster ] Through the sweetbrier, or the vine,
Or the twisted eglantine. L'Allegro, 47. “In our early writers and in Gerarde and the herbalists, it was a shrub with white flowers.” Dr. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., fr. élancer to dart. ] Ardor inspired by passion or enthusiasm. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Elanced p. pr. & vb. n. Elancing ] [ F. élancer, OF. eslancier; pref. es- (L. ex) + F. lancer to dart, throw, fr. lance. ] To throw as a lance; to hurl; to dart. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

While thy unerring hand elanced . . . a dart. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. eland elk, of Slav. origin; cf. Pol. jelen stag, Russ. oléne, Lith. elnis; perh. akin to E. elk. ] 1. (Zoöl.) A species of large South African antelope (Oreas canna). It is valued both for its hide and flesh, and is rapidly disappearing in the settled districts; -- called also Cape elk. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zoöl.) The elk or moose. [ 1913 Webster ]