royal stag
- noun
- Archaic
:
ciervo real
- The hunter spotted a magnificent royal stag in the forest.
Examples
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A rare royal stag was seen grazing near the river.
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Legends often tell of a magnificent royal stag roaming the ancient forests.
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During the autumn rut, the royal stag attracted attention from all the photographers in the park.
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The hunter was thrilled to spot a royal stag among the herd in the highlands.
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During the autumn rut, the royal stag attracted attention from all the photographers in the park.
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The hunter was thrilled to spot a royal stag among the herd in the highlands.
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Legends often tell of a magnificent royal stag roaming the ancient forests.
Synonyms
2
9.9
A male red deer with antlers that have twelve or more points
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'royal' (suggesting distinguished or kingly) with 'stag' (male deer), so a B1 learner who knows both words would likely infer it means a notable or grand male deer. However, the precise technical criterion (antlers with 12+ tines) is specialized hunting jargon and is not predictable from the constituent meanings, making the expression only partially transparent.
Etymology
Royal stag may come from old hunting times when the biggest male deer, with many points on its antlers, were kept for kings or special hunts, so the finest stag was called royal. That's why today royal stag means a very large stag with about twelve or more branches on its antlers, a 'distinguished' specimen.