oryx

[ awr-iks, ohr- ]

/ ˈɔr ɪks, ˈoʊr- /

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noun, plural o·ryx·es, (especially collectively) o·ryx.

a large antelope of the genus Oryx, with pale fur and long horns: three species are native to arid regions of Africa, and the fourth inhabits Arabia.

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Origin of oryx

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English orix, from Latin oryx “wild goat, gazelle,” from Greek óryx “iron tool for digging, pickax, gazelle, antelope” (from its sharp horns)

Words nearby oryx

Orwellian, or what, or whatever, -ory, Oryol, oryx, orzo, os, O.S.A., Osage, Osage orange

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use oryx in a sentence

If it is a young man, they should start with Oryx and Crake.
How I Write: Margaret Atwood|Noah Charney|October 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Harris has given much better arguments in favour of the unicorn being merely a species of oryx.
Mythical Monsters|Charles Gould
Toward midnight a number of oryx were seen, their long, black, sword-like horns mixed with a herd of zebra.
The Rogue Elephant|Elliott Whitney
Schoverling put down another oryx and a zebra, whose flesh the Masai delighted in, though it was too tough for the others.
The Rogue Elephant|Elliott Whitney

To his vast delight, von Hofe's oryx bounded high and fell dead; it was found that both bullets had gone through the heart.
The Rogue Elephant|Elliott Whitney
Gradually game became apparent, and after knocking over a couple of gazelles and a fine oryx, they found a waterhole.
The Rogue Elephant|Elliott Whitney

British Dictionary definitions for oryx

oryx

/ (ˈɒrɪks) /

noun plural -yxes or -yx

any large African antelope of the genus Oryx, typically having long straight nearly upright horns

Word Origin for oryx

C14: via Latin from Greek orux stonemason's axe, used also of the pointed horns of an antelope

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012