markhor

American  

[mahr-kawr] / ˈmɑr kɔr /

noun

plural

markhors,

plural

markhor

1. a wild goat, Capra falconeri, of mountainous regions from Afghanistan to India, having compressed, spiral horns and long, shaggy hair: all populations are threatened or endangered.

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markhor British  

/ ˈmɑːkɔː, ˈmɑːkʊə /

noun

1. a large wild Himalayan goat, Capra falconeri, with a reddish-brown coat and large spiralled horns

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Etymology

Origin of markhor

1865–70; < Persian mārkhōr literally, serpent-eater, equivalent to mār snake + -khōr eating; cf. manticore

Example Sentences

On a hill, the skull of a markhor goat was nailed over a graveyard’s gate.

From New York Times • Nov. 3, 2022

It's also a habitat for black bears and wolves, as well as urials, a type of sheep, and the Sulaiman markhor, a large species of wild goat.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2018

There is some good news for the markhor, though.

From Scientific American • May 16, 2012

Officials have yet to say how many markhor will be protected in the newly established, 66-square-kilometer Tatakuti Wildlife Sanctuary.

From Scientific American • May 16, 2012

No. 4.—Astor and Baltistan markhor; large, flat horns, branching out very widely, and then going up nearly straight with only a half turn.

From Natural History of the Mammalia of India and Ceylon by Sterndale, Robert Armitage