waterbuck

noun

wa·​ter·​buck ˈwȯ-tər-ˌbək How to pronounce waterbuck (audio)
ˈwä-
plural waterbuck or waterbucks
: a stocky antelope (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) of sub-Saharan Africa that commonly frequent streams or wet areas

Examples of waterbuck in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There were a few pigs, a couple javelinas, a smattering of turkeys, and two waterbucks that stared dolefully from the distance. Dave Hurteau, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2023 One recent morning, in and among the vintage Chesterfield sofas, brass gramophones and antique chandeliers, the body of a dead waterbuck antelope was found. Melissa Twigg, CNN, 20 May 2022 In 1970, two dogs scaled a chain-link fence at the zoo and set upon the herd of waterbuck installed near the great flight cage. Washington Post, 4 May 2022 Some are the polar bears and harbor seals; the cheetahs, Thomson's gazelles, southern ground hornbills and cinereous vultures; and the African lions, waterbuck, kudu and zebra. Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Dec. 2021 African farmers, ranchers and sportsmen have been hunting native impala, oryx, blesbok, warthogs, kudu, wildebeest, waterbuck, and all the rest (even buffalo, lion, and elephant) with medium caliber, medium power cartridges for more than a century. Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 13 Jan. 2020 Striped throngs of zebra bound below among groups of red hartebeest and shaggy waterbuck. Paul Steyn, National Geographic, 2 May 2019 In Gorongosa, the dogs target bushbuck, impala and waterbuck, surrounding the prey, grabbing at legs, nose and hindquarters, disemboweling it from below. Natalie Angier, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2019 September 10, 2018 4 Flavia teaches her cubs how to kill a waterbuck. David Quammen, National Geographic, 12 June 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'waterbuck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of waterbuck was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near waterbuck

Cite this Entry

“Waterbuck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waterbuck. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

waterbuck

noun
wa·​ter·​buck ˈwȯt-ər-ˌbək How to pronounce waterbuck (audio)
ˈwät-
plural waterbuck or waterbucks
: an African antelope commonly found near streams or wet areas
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