Springbok

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈspɹɪŋ.bɒk/

Definitions

1. A small African antelope with a slender body, known for its distinctive leaping behavior and white-striped reddish-brown coat
2. A small southern African antelope characterized by its lean frame, reddish-brown coloring with white markings, and remarkable ability to leap high into the air
3. An agile African hoofed mammal featuring a slender build, distinctive white stripes on its russet coat, and spectacular jumping prowess as a predator-avoidance mechanism

Etymology: The springbok's name is a compound built from two Dutch words that together describe its most famous trait. "Springen" means "to jump, spring," and "bok" means "buck," a term for a male antelope or goat. Put together, the name amounts to "jumping buck," a description of the animal's habit of leaping high into the air when startled. The word reached English through Afrikaans, the language that developed from Dutch in southern Africa, where the animal lives. English speakers borrowed the Afrikaans form directly, so the Dutch roots sit one step further back in the word's history. The antelope's leaping behaviour is so distinctive that the name describes it almost literally, with no metaphor needed.

Synonyms: antelope