Killbuck

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A male deer in its prime years, typically between five and ten years of age, distinguished by a fully developed set of antlers
2. A mature male deer, usually between five and ten years old, characterized by its robust antlers and vigorous behavior
3. This term refers to a prime-aged male deer, easily identifiable by its strong antlers and active disposition

Etymology: "Killbuck" is a plain compound: "kill" joined to "buck," a male deer. The sense is the one "buck" already carried, a mature male deer, with "kill" adding the notion of a deer taken or worth taking in the hunt. The word's modern meaning in the source is a mature male deer of roughly five to ten years, prized for its heavy antlers and strong behavior, so the compound describes the animal that hunters aim for rather than any action of the deer itself.

Synonyms: hunter, trapper, game, harvester, forager