duiker

noun

dui·​ker ˈdī-kər How to pronounce duiker (audio)
: any of several small African antelopes comprising three genera (Cephalophus, Philantomba, and Sylvicapra)

Examples of duiker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Forest buffalo, blue duikers, sitatungas and even bongos—forest-dwelling antelopes worshipped as spirits by area inhabitants—graze around bais. Zhengyang Wang, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2024 So while the Big Five are in abundance, so are shy red duikers, diminutive suni antelopes, Tonga red squirrels, and 436 bird species. Nicola Leigh Stewart, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024 Gilroy envisions a tram, part air-conditioned and part open-air, moving park visitors along a 6-mile route to view a collection of wild animals — from primates to Sichuan takin (a goat-antelope) to various kinds of duiker, closely related to antelopes. Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2021 Among the modern animals, the duiker came closest to Stegoceras's formidable dome, so beware the hidden strength of this small, shy antelope. Valerie Ross, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2011 Clients come to Warthog to hunt (and photograph) all manner of game, from the giant eland to the tiny duiker. Mark Jenkins, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Jan. 2023 Scientists there are working on methods to genetically identify meat from primates and duiker antelopes that have been illegally hunted. Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2019 Marigold, a female blue duiker, was born on July 24 at the Baltimore zoo, the facility announced Tuesday in a news release. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2022 The tiny blue duiker, a species of African antelope, was born to mom Flower, who has birthed three calves, and first-time dad Kuruka. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans, literally, diver, from duik to dive, from Middle Dutch dūken; akin to Old High German tūhhan to dive — more at duck entry 2

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of duiker was in 1777

Dictionary Entries Near duiker

Cite this Entry

“Duiker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duiker. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

duiker

noun
dui·​ker ˈdī-kər How to pronounce duiker (audio)
: any of several small African antelopes

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