roe deer

noun

: either of two small European or Asian deer (Capreolus capreolus and C. pygarus) that have short erect antlers forked at the summit, are reddish-brown in summer and grayish in winter, have a white rump patch, and are noted for their nimbleness and grace

Illustration of roe deer

Illustration of roe deer

Examples of roe deer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Explore the jagged edges of the Cantabrian Mountains along the 7.5-mile long Ruta del Cares, or look for local wildlife like roe deer and Egyptian vultures. Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2025 Once-rare wild animals, such as roe deer and wild boar, were mounting a comeback. Bydan Charles, science.org, 2 Jan. 2025 The bowstrings were made from the animal tendons belonging to a genus that includes several species of goats and ibex, a genus of wild boar and pigs, and the roe deer. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Dec. 2024 Inside the lodge, trophies of wild boar, roe deer, eagles and bears hang from plywood walls. Emily Soreghan, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024 The first holds nothing: a few blank-eyed roe deer, a blurred boar, cattle, dogs. Emily Soreghan, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024 This last one was tricky, as the roe deer, which rut in June and July, were dropping their antlers, so a lack of bone on the head wasn’t sufficient to tell the boys from the girls. John B. Snow, Outdoor Life, 6 June 2024 The study suggests that the stick was used to hunt medium-sized game such as red or roe deer, or perhaps small, fast-moving animals such as hare and birds. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2023 The stick was most likely used to hunt medium sized game such as red and roe deer, and potentially quicker and smaller prey including birds and hare. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of roe deer was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Roe deer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roe%20deer. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

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