nylghau
(ˈnɪlgɔː)
Forms: 8 nyl-gau, 8–9 nyl-ghau, 9 nyl ghau, nylghau; 8 neel-gaw, 9 neelghau; nilgau, nilghau.
[a. Pers. nīlgāw, f. nīl blue + gāw ox, cow. See also nilgai.]
A large short-horned Indian antelope, the adult male of which is of a bluish- or iron-grey colour, and has a tuft of hair on the throat.
| 1770 Hunter in Phil. Trans. LXI. 171 The male Nyl⁓ghau struck my imagination with being of a middle stature, between black cattle and deer. 1794 Sporting Mag. III. 121 The nyl-ghau, with the quickness of lightning, darted against the wood work. 1800 Asiatic Ann. Reg. 285/2 His activity and courage in the attack of the boar, the neel-gaw..and of the tiger. 1824 Heber Jrnl. xv. (1844) I. 214/1 There are not only neelghaus,..but some noble red-deer in this park. 1855 Orr's Circ. Sci., Org. Nat. III. 442 The Nyl Ghau has frequently been brought to this country, and breeds pretty freely in confinement. 1887 L. Oliphant Episodes Adventure 163, I shot my first and only blue bull or nylgau. |