roe deer

From Middle English ro der, roadeor, from Old English rāhdēor (“roe deer”), corresponding to roe + deer. Cognate with Icelandic rádýr, Swedish rådjur, Norwegian and Danish rådyr.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɹəʊˌdɪə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɹoʊˌdɪɹ/

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roe deer (plural roe deer)

1. A small, nimble Eurasian deer with no visible tail, a white rump patch, and a reddish summer coat that turns grey in winter, the male having short three-pointed antlers (Capreolus capreolus and Capreolus pygargus).

   Synonyms: chevreuil, roe

   • 1955, Robin Jenkins, The Cone-Gatherers, Canongate, published 2012, page 84:

     Frightened by the noises approaching them from the rear, and apprehensive of the human silence ahead, the five roe deer were halted, their heads high in nervous alertness.

• roebuck

• roe deer on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• reerode