antelope
(ˈæntɪləʊp)
Forms: 5–7 antelop, 5 antyllope, antlop(e, 6 anteloppe, 7 antalope, 6–9 antilope, 5– antelope.
[a. OFr. antelop (also antelu), ad. L. ant(h)alop-us (Damianus, a 1072), Gr. ἀνθόλοψ, ἀνθόλοπ- (Eustathius of Antioch, c 336), original language and meaning unknown. Med.Latin forms were also talopus, calopus.]
The popular and literary name for the numerous species of the deer-like ruminant genus Antilope (Pallas), the limits of which have been variously extended or contracted by different zoologists. The most usual scientific characteristics of the genus are cylindrical, annulated horns, and the possession of a sub-orbital or ‘lachrymal’ sinus. They are sometimes grouped as True Antelopes, Bush A., Capriform or Goat-like A., and Bovine or Ox-like A. It is with the first of these, distinguished by extreme grace and speed of motion, that the name is now popularly associated.
This application of the word is recent. The Gr., L., and OFr. (Trésor of Brun. Lat.) notices describe a creature haunting the banks of the Euphrates, very savage, hard to catch, having long saw-like horns, with which they cut in pieces and broke all ‘engines,’ and even cut down trees. With these attributes the ‘antelope’ early became a heraldic animal. The modern denotation seems to begin with Topsell. The genus Antilope was constituted by Pallas c 1775.
| c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (1840) 6 Twoo antelopis stondyng on outher syde, Withe the armys of Englond and of Fraunce. 1432 Let. in Riley Liber Alb. (1861) III. 459 In eadem pagina [i.e. pageant] erigebantur duo animalia vocata ‘antelops.’ 1440 Promp. Parv., Antyllope, beste, Tatula. 1486 Bk. St. Alban's, Arms C viij b, As Lyon, Antlop, and other. 1596 Spenser F.Q. i. vi. 26 The antelope and wolfe both fiers and fell. 1607 Topsell Four-footed Beasts (1673) 1 The Antalope called in Latin Calopus, and of the Grecians Analopos, or Aptolos. 1662 Evelyn Diary 9 June, Staggs, elks, antelopes. 1678 Phillips, Antilope, a certain mongrel beast, begotten of an Hart and a Goat. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. II. 47 The tenth variety of the gazelle is the antelope, so well known to the English, who have given it the name. 1821 Shelley Epipsych. 75 An antelope, In the suspended impulse of its lightness, Were less ætherially light. 1847 Carpenter Zool. §265 The True Antelopes are remarkable for the graceful symmetry of their bodies, the length and slenderness of their limbs, and the lightness and agility of their movements... To the group of true Antelopes also belongs the Gazelle. |
b. attrib.
| 1862 Mrs. Browning Last Poems 8 Her throat has the antelope curve. 1872 Baker Nile Trib. xviii. 318 At length we discovered a dangerous antelope-track. |