gemsbok

American  

[gemz-bok] / ˈgɛmzˌbɒk /

Also gemsbuck

noun

• gemsboks,
  plural
• gemsbok
  plural

1. a large antelope, Oryx gazella, the largest of the oryxes, found in arid regions of southern Africa, including the Kalahari Desert, having a long black tail and conspicuous black striping on the face and from the chin to the front legs and along each lower flank to the rear legs: despite being widely hunted for their nearly straight horns, which are about 33 inches (84 centimeters) long on the males and slightly longer on the females, gemsbok have a conservation status of least concern.

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gemsbok British  

/ ˈɡɛmzˌbʌk /

noun

1. another word for oryx

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• gemsbok
  plural
• gemsboks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gemsbok

First recorded in 1770–80; from Afrikaans, from German Gemsbock “chamois buck, male chamois”; see origin at gems, buck ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gemsbok gemsboks

The authors cite a hypothetical hunt of a gemsbok, a large antelope from southern Africa.

From Science Magazine ● May 12, 2024

The Kgalagadi transfrontier park, which spans the border with South Africa, is an immense 3 6,000 sq km wilderness, home to gemsbok desert antelope, black-maned Kalahari lions and pygmy falcons.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 2, 2015

Ahead of her, a pair of African gemsbok antelope are running.

From Time Magazine Archive

Little Trüey ran into the inner room and brought out an immense volume bound in gemsbok skin, with a couple of brass clasps upon it to keep it closed.

From Popular Adventure Tales by Reid, Mayne

“Is the gemsbok the only animal we have lost?”

From In the Wilds of Africa by Pearse, Alfred

At the summit, she pauses to drink in the view--and the silence--while the gemsboks peer at her from behind a live oak.

From Time Magazine Archive

He was dead—as Julius Caesar or a door-nail, and so, too, was the brace of gemsboks.

From The Young Yagers A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern Africa by Reid, Mayne

It would scarce be possible to stalk the gemsboks.

From The Young Yagers A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern Africa by Reid, Mayne

We have, however, still herds of antelopes of all kinds, springboks, gemsboks, elands, koodoos, hartebeests, and gnus.

From Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand by Adams, H.C.

The lion was observed to crawl off from the spot in a direction that would enable him to get upon the path of the gemsboks, between them and the camp.

From The Young Yagers A Narrative of Hunting Adventures in Southern Africa by Reid, Mayne