steenbok
1
9.9
A small African antelope with large ears and short horns
- noun
- /ˈstiːnˌbɒk/
- South African
:
steenbok
- While on safari, we spotted a steenbok grazing quietly in the grasslands of southern Africa.
Examples
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PHOTO (COLOR): The steenbok is usually very shy and hard to photograph.
Academic text (1999) -
The guide explained that the steenbok is known for its large ears, which help it detect predators.
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During our trip, we were excited to see a steenbok leaping gracefully across the open landscape.
Synonyms
9.9
A small, thin African deer-like animal with short horns and reddish-brown fur
notes large ears and open country habitat instead of horn focus
9.9
A small reddish brown antelope from southeastern Africa that lives alone in grasslands
is the common English term and stresses ears and open habitat
Surface Forms
Etymology
Steenbok comes from Afrikaans and Dutch parts steen 'stone' and bok 'buck', like the English word 'buck'. So a steenbok is a 'stone buck' — a small antelope that often stays low near rocks or has a stone-like colour to help it hide.