Elt

/ɛlt/ noun

Definition

A young sow or female pig, especially one that has not yet had piglets.

Etymology

From Old English 'ylte' or 'elt,' of uncertain origin but possibly related to Old Norse words for young animals, used in agricultural dialect for young female swine.

Kelly Says

Farm vocabulary preserves ancient words—terms like 'elt' for young pigs show how agricultural societies developed precise vocabularies for animals that urban speakers never needed, keeping medieval language alive in farmyards.

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