bighorn

¹

[ big-hawrn ]

noun

, plural big·horns, (especially collectively) big·horn.

1. a wild sheep, Ovis canadensis, of the Rocky Mountains, with large, curving horns.

Bighorn

²

[ big-hawrn ]

noun

1. a river flowing from central Wyoming to the Yellowstone River in S Montana. 336 miles (540 km) long.

bighorn

/ ˈbɪɡˌhɔːn /

noun

1. a large wild sheep, Ovis canadensis , inhabiting mountainous regions in North America and NE Asia: family Bovidae , order Artiodactyla . The male has massive curved horns, and the species is well adapted for climbing and leaping

Word History and Origins

Origin of bighorn¹

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; big ¹ + horn

Example Sentences

Local artists say it is just a fanciful mashup of animal images, including a bear and bighorn sheep — with wings in the rainbow colors of the Pride flag.

From Los Angeles Times

In his spare time, he was a caretaker at a refuge for bighorn sheep, traipsing into the woods in the middle of the night to check on the water supply.

From Los Angeles Times

"Queer Planet," a new documentary now streaming on Peacock, opens with a pair of bighorn sheep, both males, who are literally butting heads.

From Salon

But remember, you’ll be in a kayak beneath tall cliffs, keeping an eye out for desert bighorn sheep, possibly engaging in splash skirmishes with fellow paddlers.

From Los Angeles Times

The species they support range from tiger salamanders to desert pupfish, and from songbirds to mammals such as ground squirrels and bighorn sheep.

From Los Angeles Times