gemsbuck, noun

Forms:
Also gembuck.
Plurals:
unchanged, or gemsbucks.
Origin:
South African Dutch
The gemsbok (sense 1), Oryx gazella. Also attributive.
1815 J. Mackrill Diary. 91Gems Buck is the Pasan of Buffon the Egyptian Antelope of Pinnant and the Capra Oryx of the Systema Naturae.
1856 Cape of G.H. Almanac & Annual Register 73Koodoo, Gems Buck, Gnoo, Eland, Buffalo and other horns.
1871 J. Mackenzie Ten Yrs N. of Orange River 260Mr. Price killed two giraffes, and I an oryx or gemsbuck,..said to be the fleetest of the antelopes.
1898 G. Nicholson 50 Yrs 108The gemsbuck is about the size and weight of a large donkey...The straight horns are often fifty-two inches or more long, and, sharp as a rapier, are splendid trophies.
1902 D. Hutcheon Rinderpest 3The following antelopes are reported to have suffered most from Rinderpest. In the Northern Protectorate the eland, buffalo, gemsbuck, and rietbuck.
1961 L.E. Van Onselen Trekboer 83Here for many years, gemsbuck, springbok and wild ostriches roamed over these flats in great numbers.
1988 S. Afr. Panorama May 15 (caption)Gemsbuck on an extensive game and hunting ranch in the Soutpansberg territory.
The gemsbok (sense 1), Oryx gazella. Also attributive.
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18151988