roe deer

noun

: either of two small European or Asian deer (Capreolus capreolus and C. pygarus) that have short erect antlers forked at the summit, are reddish-brown in summer and grayish in winter, have a white rump patch, and are noted for their nimbleness and grace

Illustration of roe deer

Examples of roe deer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The study suggests that the stick was used to hunt medium-sized game such as red or roe deer, or perhaps small, fast-moving animals such as hare and birds. —Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2023

The stick was most likely used to hunt medium sized game such as red and roe deer, and potentially quicker and smaller prey including birds and hare. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 July 2023

The Iceman traveled with (from left) a stone dagger, arrows, a roe deer leather quiver, fungus used for tinder (not that Tinder), birch fungus and birch bark. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 18 Aug. 2016

Small, red-brown roe deer have the ability to postpone pregnancies until spring. —The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2023

His fabulous furry hat, for example, came from a brown bear, while his quiver leather was from a roe deer. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 18 Aug. 2016

The hotel is situated outside Grasmere village in grounds made up of gardens and forest home to a herd of roe deer, red squirrels and native plant species including foxgloves and wood sorrel. —Lauren Jade Hill, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2022

But Obleser and his coauthors think their magnetic preferences might help roe deer nonetheless. —Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2016

From the valley floor, pick lake sardines and radicchio, from the alpine pasture pick red turnip and nostrano stravecchio (a regional hard cheese), and from the high mountain pick arctic char or roe deer to name but a few. —Duncan Madden, Forbes, 19 May 2022

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above