Obs. Also alaun(t, alant, allan, allaund, aland. [a. OFr. alan, alant, allant; cf. It. and Sp. alano, Pg. alāo, med.L. alanus.] A large species of dog used to hunt or bait wild animals; a wolf-hound.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 1290. Aboute his Chaar ther wenten white Alauntz [v.r. alantz, alauntis].
1525. Ld. Berners, Froissart, II. xxiv. 65. Foure coursers and two Allans of Spaygne.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 86. Three Allaundes, whiche be a certaine kinde of dogges of great stature.
1742. Bailey, Alandes, wolf dogs. Chauc.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., I. i. 17. Alauntes, or bull-dogs.
1825. Scott, Talism. (1863), 47. Three alans … wolf-greyhounds, that is.
1845. Blackw. Mag., LVII. 776. The snowy alauns.
1864. Boutell, Heraldry, ix. 63. Another heraldic Dog, a mastiff with short ears, is distinguished as an Alant.
