white elephantn.
/ˌwʌɪt ˈɛlᵻf(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌ(h)waɪd ˈɛləf(ə)nt/ 1. An elephant with unusually pale skin; spec. an Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus) of a kind having pale skin, hair, nails, and eyes, formerly kept by the kings of Siam (now Thailand), and revered in several southeast Asian countries.The white elephants of South-East Asia are not now considered to be true albinos.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > [noun] > that on which money is expended > something demanding excessive expenditure
lickpenny14..
white elephant1555
white elephant1721
rathole1863
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > order Proboscidea (elephants) > [noun] > elephant > elephas maximus (Indian elephant)
elephant1340
Indian elephant1555
white elephant1555
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [noun] > encumberment > burdensomeness > a burden > possession
white elephant1555
white elephant1721
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > [noun] > that which is useless > useless person or thing > thing or object > and burdensome
white elephant1555
white elephant1721
1555 R. Eden Two Viages into Guinea in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 356v A greate region of Ethiopians which bryngeth furth whyte elephantes, tygers, [etc.].
1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Comm. Notable Thinges in tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 396 The occasion was, that vnderstanding, how that the saide king of Syan had in his power a white Elephant (whome those of the kingdome of Pegu do worship for God) the king sent to buy the same.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 208 An Indian, who had brought vp from a Foale a white Elephant.
1663 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures (new ed.) xlviii. 274 The white elephant whereon he [sc. the King of Siam] was mounted.
1780 W. Smellie tr. Comte de Buffon Nat. Hist. Gen. & Particular VI. 45 White elephants, as formerly remarked, are extremely rare.
1841 Penny Cycl. XXI. 451/2 White elephants..are kept in the stables of the king [of Siam], and treated with a kind of veneration.
1882 Eclectic Mag. 36 189/1 The famous ‘white elephants’, whose existence has given origin to the proverbial expression concerning the disadvantage of unwieldy possessions, have a veritable existence.
1921 E. A. Powell Where Strange Trails Go Down x. 226 To visit Siam without seeing the royal white elephants would be like visiting Niagara without seeing the falls.
1978 I. Wallace Two i. 3 Siam..would forever be known for three of its products—the Siamese white elephant, the Siamese cat and the Siamese Twins.
2005 Geographical Sept. 49/2 Most experts agree that in order for a white elephant to be genuine it has to have four toenails instead of five, the skin has to turn red, not black, when sprayed with water,..and the eyes must have yellow irises enclosed by red rings.
2. figurative. A burdensome or costly objective, enterprise, or possession, esp. one that appears magnificent; a financial liability.With reference to the story that the kings of Siam (now Thailand) would make a present of a white elephant to courtiers who had displeased them, in order to ruin the recipient by the cost of its maintenance.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > expenditure > [noun] > that on which money is expended > something demanding excessive expenditure
lickpenny14..
white elephant1555
white elephant1721
rathole1863
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [noun] > encumberment > burdensomeness > a burden > possession
white elephant1555
white elephant1721
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > [noun] > that which is useless > useless person or thing > thing or object > and burdensome
white elephant1555
white elephant1721
1721 London Jrnl. 16 Dec. 2/2 In short, Honour and Victory are generally no more than white Elephants; and for white Elephants the most destructive Wars have been often made.
1851 G. E. Jewsbury Let. 23 July (1892) 414 His services are like so many white elephants, of which nobody can make use, and yet that drain one's gratitude, if indeed one does not feel bankrupt.
1880 A. Trollope Duke's Children III. i. 2 Gatherum [Castle] was rather a trouble than otherwise... Gatherum was the White Elephant of the family.
1928 J. Galsworthy Swan Song ii. ii. 113 ‘You look so well in that hat, Uncle.’ Soames took it off again. ‘White elephant,’ he said. ‘Can't think what made Fleur get me the thing!’
1950 G. J. Renier Hist. iii. iii. 203 The miser often has a white elephant upon which he lavishes money: a house, or an unworthy friend.
1970 Daily Mail 27 Oct. 2/8 The new rail link may prove to be ideologically satisfying, but in financial terms it looks like becoming the biggest white elephant in all Africa.
2009 Private Eye 1 May 7/2 The upshot was £113m wasted on a white elephant of a redundant aircraft super-hangar.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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