chamois, noun

Origin:
EnglishShow more Transferred use of general English chamois the European antelope Rupicapra tragus.
obsolescent
The klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus.
1885 Macmillan’s Mag. (U.K.) Feb. 280The klip-springer, the little chamois that is so clever at eluding dogs and men.
1890 A. Martin Home Life 223Rarest among the antelopes is the klipspringer, which is called the chamois of South Africa, and which, both in appearance and habits, closely resembles the Alpine animal.
1898 G. Nicholson 50 Yrs 35Higher up among the precipitous rocks near the summits the African Chamois (klipspringer) is always to be found.
c1936 S. & E. Afr. Yr Bk & Guide 1086The Klipspringer,..sometimes spoken of as the ‘chamois of South Africa.’
1936 R. Campbell Mithraic Emblems 68I always thought to be A klipspringer or chamois.
1966 J. Farrant Mashonaland Martyr 120Were they attracted by the klipspringers? Were they curious about the man who could tame these fleet and nimble little antelopes, the ‘rock chamois’ of southern Africa?
The klipspringer, Oreotragus oreotragus.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18851966

Browse Related Words

By Category

Mammals

By Origin

English

By Usage

obsolete or obsolescent
Chamber of Mines, noun phrasen. phr.chandelier, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English