antelope English · revision 1408

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1417}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæn.tɪ.ləʊp/ ''(UK)''; /ˈæn.tɪ.loʊp/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|antelope|t=a heraldic beast]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) probably [[bor|fro|antelop|t=savage beast with saw-like horns]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la-med|antalopus]], [[m|la-med|anthalopus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[grc|ἀνθόλοψ|tr=anthólops]], used by Eustathius of Antioch in the 4th century of a fabulous beast.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Its original sense and language are unknown;^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)^(Weekley 1921)^(Partridge 1966) Klein suggests “flower eye”, from [[m|grc|ἄνθος|tr=ánthos|t=flower]] and [[m|grc|ὤψ|tr=ṓps|t=eye]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A picture of a beast on a coat of arms (about 1417 in Barnhart; c. 1430 in the OED; early 15th century in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In medieval lore the antelope was a fierce, hard-to-catch creature living by the Euphrates, with long saw-like horns that could cut down trees,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Cresswell 2021) and it was often shown in heraldry.^(Cresswell 2021)^(AHD) Spenser writes of “the antelope and wolf both fierce and fell”.^(Weekley 1921) About 1600 zoologists applied the name to a real, deerlike animal,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Cresswell 2021) and modern [[fr|antilope]] was borrowed back from English.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Klein 1966)^(Weekley 1921) In the western United States the name is used of the [[pronghorn]].^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1417 – a heraldic beast.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1430 – first quotation in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1607 – the deerlike mammal.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of various swift, slender [[ruminant]] mammals of the family Bovidae, chiefly of Africa and Asia, with hollow, permanent horns directed upward and backward, such as the [[gazelle]] and [[impala]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An animal that resembles a true antelope, such as the [[pronghorn]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # [[leather|alt=Leather]] made from antelope hide.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sable antelope]]

+ * [[Tibetan antelope]]

+ * [[goat antelope]]

+ * [[harnessed antelope]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[gazelle]]

+ * [[impala]]

+ * [[eland]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}