scimitar oryx

American  

[sim-i-ter awr-iks] / ˈsɪm ɪ tər ˈɔr ɪks /

noun

plural

scimitar oryxes,

plural

scimitar oryx

1. a large antelope, Oryx dammah, once widespread across North Africa, noted especially for its thin, backward-curving, symmetrical horns, which can reach a length of nearly 4 feet (1.2 meters) on both the males and females: hunted nearly to extinction for its horns, it is now believed to exist only in special reserves and was thus classified as extinct in the wild in 2000.

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Etymology

Origin of scimitar oryx

First recorded in 1900–05. The variant scimitar-horned oryx was first recorded in 1845–50

Example Sentences

The haul included some extinct animals, such as the scimitar oryx, and endangered species like lions, cheetahs and the Bengal tiger.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2022