King of the White Elephant
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The proudest title borne by the old kings of Ava and Siam. In Ava the white elephant bore the title of "lord," and had a minister of high rank to superintend his household.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “King of the White Elephant” mean?
The proudest title borne by the old kings of Ava and Siam. In Ava the white elephant bore the title of "lord," and had a minister of high rank to superintend his household.
Is “King of the White Elephant” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.