gnu goat
- noun
- Indian
- The gnu goat is well adapted to the rocky slopes of the eastern Himalayas.
Examples
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Researchers observed several gnu goats grazing at high altitudes during their expedition.
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A mature gnu goat can weigh over 200 kilograms.
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The gnu goat is native to the Himalayas.
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Many gnu goats can be seen grazing in the mountains.
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Researchers observed several gnu goats grazing at high altitudes during their expedition.
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A mature gnu goat can weigh over 200 kilograms.
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The gnu goat is well adapted to the rocky slopes of the eastern Himalayas.
Synonyms
A large goat-like animal with thick shaggy fur and curved horns from the eastern Himalayas
A large, heavy goatlike animal that lives in the eastern Himalayan mountains
Surface Forms
Morphology
gnu + goat
The noun-noun composition 'gnu goat' is directly interpretable as a goat-like animal where 'gnu' modifies 'goat'; a B1 learner who knows 'gnu' (a type of animal) and 'goat' can infer a goat-related or goat-antelope meaning. This follows regular compounding patterns and is therefore compositional and transparent, although in practice 'gnu' is low-frequency so learners may not know that constituent.
Etymology
The name gnu goat may come from the deep 'gnu' sound the animal makes, with the sound word gnu joined to goat to make a simple name. That's why gnu goat now means a large, heavy goat-antelope found high in the eastern Himalayas.