pronghorn

C2 Topic:Animals

Also spelled Prong-horn

US /ˈprɔːŋˌhɔːrn/ UK /ˈprɒŋˌhɔːn/
noun Freq #83184

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a swift ruminant of western North America, Antilocapra americana, whose males have horns with a forward-pointing prong

    A pronghorn crossed the open prairie at a speed no pursuing deer could match.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a swift ruminant of western... pronghorn antelopeAmerican antelopeprongbuck
Word family
Forms prong-horned
Derived forms prong-horned
Related forms Antilocapra americanaAntilocapridaeruminantantelopehorn

Etymology

A compound of prong + horn, named for the forward-pointing branch on the adult male's horn. The animal is often called an antelope, but it is the only living member of the separate family Antilocapridae; unlike most horned mammals, it sheds and regrows the outer horn sheaths each year.

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