duiker

American  

[dahy-ker] / ˈdaɪ kər /

noun

duikers, plural duiker plural

1. any of several small African antelopes of the Cephalophus, Sylvicapra, and related genera, the males and often the females having short, spikelike horns: some are endangered.

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duiker British  

/ ˈdaɪˌkə /

noun

1. Also called: duikerbok.  any small antelope of the genera Cephalophus and Sylvicapra, occurring throughout Africa south of the Sahara, having short straight backward-pointing horns, pointed hooves, and an arched back

2. any of several cormorants, esp the long-tailed shag ( Phalacrocorax africanus )

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• duikers
  plural
• duiker
  plural

Etymology

Origin of duiker

1770–80; < Afrikaans, Dutch duiker diver, equivalent to duiken to dive ( see duck ²) + -er -er ¹

Example Sentences

Black and white colobus monkeys also fed on the guano 65 times, and red duiker antelopes licked it 682 times.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 22, 2024

“If a hunt begins, it follows group lines: The duiker group chases duikers, the anomalure group pursues anomalures.”

From New York Times • May 7, 2021

After a long march, the team found what was left of the dead duiker, surrounded by buzzing flies.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 28, 2021

All the while, Sylvie, a young duiker, a type of antelope, would flagrantly steal scraps off the countertop.

From Washington Post

Nhamo sat with her back against the duiker stall and surveyed her kingdom.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer