spoor

[ spoor, spawr, spohr ]

noun

1. a track or trail, especially that of a wild animal pursued as game.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to track by or follow a spoor.

spoor

/ spʊə; spɔː /

noun

1. the trail of an animal or person, esp as discernible to the human eye

verb

1. to track (an animal) by following its trail

Derived Forms

• ˈspoorer, noun

Other Words From

• spoorer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoor¹

1815–25; < Afrikaans spoor < Dutch; cognate with Old English, Old Norse spor, German Spur; speer

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoor¹

C19: from Afrikaans, from Middle Dutch spor; related to Old English spor track, Old High German spor; see spur

Example Sentences

We followed this spoor down the rocky slope where ferns and little shrubs divided the stones.

From Project Gutenberg

They came at last to a low crater wall, where the spoor disappeared.

From Project Gutenberg

Ya, baas—a mighty big one too; das da spoor of dem antelope—See!

From Project Gutenberg

So I took up the parable, telling how I had found spoor leading to the waterhole and that here it had stopped.

From Project Gutenberg

Quickly, eagerly, I cast around for spoor, beyond the radius of the disturbed part of the ground.

From Project Gutenberg