nilgai

or nyl·ghai, nyl·ghau

[ nil-gahy ]

noun

, plural nil·gais, (especially collectively) nil·gai.

1. a large, Indian antelope, Boselaphus tragocamelus, the male of which is bluish gray with small horns, the female tawny and hornless.

nilgai

/ ˈnɪlɡɔː; ˈnɪlɡaɪ /

noun

1. a large Indian antelope, Boselaphus tragocamelus. The male is blue-grey with white markings and has small horns; the female is brownish and has no horns

Word History and Origins

Origin of nilgai¹

First recorded in 1880–85, nilgai is from the Hindi word nīlgāy literally, blue cow

Word History and Origins

Origin of nilgai¹

C19: from Hindi nīlgāw blue bull, from Sanskrit nīla dark blue + go bull

Example Sentences

The paper’s authors, who also included a conservation officer and a park ranger, first spotted the motley crew in late December 2018, hanging out near a freshly killed nilgai antelope.

From New York Times

Scarier still was the walk to a market where she had to sort the family’s paperwork for a ration card, through a wooded area populated by nilgai deer, monkeys and python.

From Washington Post

In view of the massive swelling of the python's stomach, the forest authorities suspect that it gobbled up a full-grown 'nilgai' or blue bull.

From Reuters

On Sunday evening, when Boxler failed to return home from feeding the animals, family members searching for him found a nilgai antelope loose near its pen, its door open, the sheriff's office said.

From Reuters

The Wyoming County sheriff’s office says 81-year-old Hans Boxler Sr. was feeding animals Monday when he was trampled by a nilgai antelope.

From Seattle Times