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blacktail

blacktail

1 8.7
A type of deer with a black-tipped tail found in western mountains
  • noun
  • /ˈblækˌteɪl/
  • US
translation icon : ciervo de cola negra
  • The blacktail deer, recognizable by its black-tipped tail, is a common sight in the western forests.
  • blacktail deer
  • blacktail buck
  • hunt blacktails

Examples

  • In less than 2 hours, Jack had dropped two blacktails.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Out the back door of the ranch stood the northernmost Bridger peaks, Blacktail, Horsethief, and Hatfield, but at its threshold, the land took a running start down to the Gallatin Valley, fertile as a green dream.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Each fall, he takes hunters to the north of Kodiak on a search for blacktail deer.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • One magnificent bull grazes alone next to the road in Blacktail Deer Plateau.

    Blog text (5)
  • Too, this unique region also hosts an impressive array of other wildlife, including blacktail prairie dogs, gray foxes, and piglike javelinas.

    Academic text (2002)
  • During the autumn hunting season, many hunters seek blacktail deer in the Rocky Mountains.

  • In coastal regions, the Sitka blacktail is known for its unique coloring and behavior.

Synonyms

mule deer
vsblacktail
  • Specialized
4 5.6

A large deer with long ears and antlers that split into two in western North America

is a local subspecies term for Rocky Mountain groups with a tail mark
blacktail deer
vsblacktail
  • US
1 6.7

A deer that lives in western North America and has a black tail

refers especially to those in the western Rocky Mountains rather than the whole west
black-tailed deer
vsblacktail
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A deer in western North America with a black-tipped tail

is used more for Rocky Mountain populations rather than all western groups
Odocoileus hemionus columbianus
vsblacktail
  • Specialized
9.9

A deer with a black tail that lives in forests of the western mountains

is the general common name for similar animals rather than the formal subspecies
burro deer
vsblacktail
  • Specialized
9.3

A large deer that lives in western North America and has very big ears and forked antlers

is identified by its tail marking rather than ear or antler size
Odocoileus hemionus
vsblacktail
  • Specialized
9.9

A deer from North America with long ears and forked antlers

is narrower and focuses on western Rocky Mountain groups with a tail marking

Compounds

1 6.7

A deer that lives in western North America and has a black tail

A large wild hare with long black-tipped ears and a black streak on its tail

A small squirrel-like animal that lives underground in groups and has a black-tipped tail

Surface Forms

blacktail singular
blacktails plural

Morphology

blacktail = black + tail (transparent) = black + tail

The compound is directly interpretable as 'black' + 'tail', referring to an animal with a black-tipped tail.

Etymology

Blacktail comes from the simple parts black and tail, meaning 'black' and 'tail'. It names a mule deer with a dark or black-tipped tail, so the word points to the most obvious mark of the animal and helps you remember which deer it is.