lechwe

noun

le·chwe ˈlēch-wē

plural lechwe or lechwes

: an antelope (Kobus leche) that inhabits wetlands of southern Africa

also : a related antelope (K. megaceros) of the Nile Valley in Sudan and Ethiopia

Word History

Etymology

probably from Sesotho lets'a

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of lechwe was in 1857

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Lechwe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lechwe. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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