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wildebeest

a large African antelope with a curved mane and horns, also called a gnu

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Where does the word "wildebeest" come from? It comes from Afrikaans/Dutch wild beest, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "wildebeest" come from? It comes from Afrikaans/Dutch wild beest, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Wildebeest’s story begins in Afrikaans/Dutch: wild beest meant “wild beast.” Combining "wild" (wild) and "beest" (beast). It reached English by 1800s as wildebeest. Dutch 'wild beast'; its annual Serengeti migration is one of the largest on Earth. Today, wildebeest means a large African antelope with a curved mane and horns, also called a gnu.

  1. Stage 1 · Afrikaans/Dutch · 1700s wild beest "wild beast", combining "wild" (wild) and "beest" (beast).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s wildebeest "a large African antelope, also called a gnu", Dutch 'wild beast'; its annual Serengeti migration is one of the largest on Earth.

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