Saigas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A species of antelope characterized by its distinctively oversized, bulbous nose and adapted to cold, arid environments
2. A type of herbivorous mammal known for its unique physical features and its habitat in the steppes of Central Asia
3. An antelope that plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, often found in herds and recognized for its ability to thrive in harsh landscapes

Etymology: "Saigas" is the plural of "saiga," a steppe antelope of Central Asia with a distinctive bulbous, trunk-like nose. The singular word reached English from Russian, where "сайга́" (sajgá) is the name for the animal. Russian in turn took it from Kazakh, in which "сайғақ" (sayğaq) means the same thing, and the Kazakh form traces back to a reconstructed Proto-Turkic ancestor, "*saygak," meaning the saiga itself. The word therefore passed from the grasslands where the animal lives through Turkic speakers to Russian, and from Russian into English.

Synonyms: antelope, goitered antelope