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barking deer

barking deer

9.4
A small Asian deer with short antlers that makes a sound like a dog
  • noun
  • /ˈbɑrkɪŋ dɪr/
  • Indian
translation icon : ciervo ladrador
  • The barking deer is known for its distinctive call, which sounds similar to a dog barking.

Examples

  • In many regions of Asia, hunters often try to track barking deer due to their unique vocalizations.

  • Various members of the colorful pitta family can also be encountered on the more remote jungle tracks while small barking deer graze on the jungle floor or in small clearings.

    Academic text (2008)
  • While walking through the forest, I spotted a barking deer grazing peacefully among the trees.

Synonyms

deer
vsbarking deer
330 1.0

A wild animal with hooves and antlers that lives in forests and fields

is a specific small Asian species with short antlers and a barking call
muntjac
vsbarking deer
  • Indian
1 9.9

A small deer from Asia with short antlers and a barking call

is the same animal but presented as another common name

Surface Forms

barking deer singular
barking deers plural

Morphology

bark + deer

The compound is a straightforward modifier+noun: 'barking' describes a deer that produces a barking-like call, so a learner who knows 'bark' and 'deer' can infer it refers to a deer that barks. This species name is compositional and follows a common cross-linguistic pattern for animal names, so its meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Barking deer gets its name from the animal's loud call. The small deer makes a sound like a dog's 'bark', so people called it barking deer, and today the name means a small Asian deer called a 'muntjac' that is known for that noise.