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Nilgai

3 stages from Hindi to English.

Today it means The largest antelope of Asia, native to India, with males having a distinctive blue-grey coat.

Where does the word "nilgai" come from? It comes from Hindi nil, passing through Hindi before entering English (1882).

1
Stage 1 of 3
nil
Hindi · medieval
"blue"
meant 'blue'
2
Stage 2 of 3
gai
Hindi · medieval
"cow"
meant 'cow', from Sanskrit go
3
Stage 3 of 3
nilgai
English · 1882
"India's largest antelope, with a blue-grey coat in males"
the compound 'blue cow' named India's largest antelope, whose bulls have a blue-grey coat
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