antler

noun

ant·ler ˈant-lər

: one of the paired deciduous solid bony processes that arise from the frontal bone on the head of an animal of the deer family

also : a branch of an antler

antlered

ˈant-lərd

adjective

antlerless

ˈant-lər-ləs

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Deer antler velvet extract is a traditional Chinese medicine that's been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. —

Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2022 Instead Bonduriansky and his colleagues tried supplementing the diets of wild antler flies. —

Saima May Sidik, Scientific American, 20 Dec. 2022 These antler stocking holders work for the holiday season and can even double as rustic decor year-round. Bring JOY to your mantel with this set of buffalo-plaid letter stocking holders. —

Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 1 Dec. 2022 Kendell Cummings and Brady Lowry - wrestling teammates at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming - were mauled by a grizzly bear Saturday while antler hunting. —

Stephanie Gallman, CNN, 19 Oct. 2022 An antlered deer has at least one antler three inches or longer in length. —

Joe Harrington, The Enquirer, 23 Sep. 2022 Fund is designed to highlight more one-of-a-kind destination homes like the Big Idaho Potato Hotel in Boise, Idaho, which looks like a giant spud from the outside and features cozy accommodations including a fireplace and antler-carved chandelier. —

Martine Paris, Bloomberg.com, 23 June 2022 Grafted onto another part of the skull, a leg, even the head of a mouse, the tissue excised from an antler’s base can still burst into twists and tines of bone. —

Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2022 July's Buck Moon refers to antler changes on male deer (bucks). —

Meghan Willcoxon, Journal Sentinel, 12 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antler.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aunteler, from Anglo-French antiler, from Vulgar Latin *anteoculare, from neuter of *anteocularis located before the eye, from Latin ante- + oculus eye — more at eye

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of antler was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century