Alphyn
The alphyn is a rare
The word alphyn has been previously identified with the Middle English word alfin, which refers to the bishop in chess and ultimately comes from the Arabic الْفِيل al-fīl, meaning "the elephant," as the bishop was formerly represented by an elephant-shaped piece. However, Williams (1989) argues that the alphyn does not at all resemble an elephant, and elephants themselves are not uncommon in heraldry. Williams instead suggests that as a hybrid animal, the alphyn is related to the heraldic enfield and ultimately sourced from the mythical Irish onchú.[3]
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