hartebeest

[ hahr-tuh-beest, hahrt-beest ]

noun

, plural har·te·beests, (especially collectively) har·te·beest.

1. any large African antelope of the genus Alcelaphus, having ringed horns that curve backward: some species are endangered.
2. any of several related African antelopes, as certain species of the genus Damaliscus.

hartebeest

/ ˈhɑːtɪˌbiːst; ˈhɑːtˌbiːst /

noun

1. either of two large African antelopes, Alcelaphus buselaphus or A. lichtensteini, having an elongated muzzle, lyre-shaped horns, and a fawn-coloured coat
2. any similar and related animal, such as Damaliscus hunteri ( Hunter's hartebeest )

Word History and Origins

Origin of hartebeest¹

From Afrikaans, dating back to 1780–90; hart, beast

Word History and Origins

Origin of hartebeest¹

C18: via Afrikaans from Dutch; see hart , beast

Example Sentences

Warthogs, wild dogs and horse-like antelopes known as hartebeest frequently wind up as road kill.

From New York Times

Wildlife habitat The valley is home to buffalo, baboon, bushpig, crocodile, eland, elephant, hartebeest, puku antelope, reedbuck, sable, waterbuck, weaver bird and zebra.

From The Guardian

Found among them were the remains of butchered gazelle, zebra, wildebeest and hartebeest.

From Washington Post

We saw hartebeest, perhaps the handsomest of the antelope, their proud stance like something out of a Renaissance painting.

From Wall Street Journal

We pass a pack of female impalas, then some hartebeests, then gazelles.

From National Geographic