springbok
springbok Lexical Profile
springbok Game Scores & Validity
• noun
South African A player representing the South African national rugby union team, or a representation of the animal used as a national sporting emblem.
"The Springboks secured a historic victory in the World Cup final, uniting the nation in celebration."
A medium-sized brown and white antelope native to the dry savannas of southern Africa, known for its distinctive habit of leaping high into the air (pronking) when alarmed.
"A large herd of springbok grazed peacefully on the plains before suddenly scattering at the sight of a lion."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the animal, the word is typically lowercase, but it is capitalized ('Springbok') when referring to the South African national rugby team or serving as a national emblem.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Afrikaans 'springbok', compounding 'spring' (to jump) and 'bok' (buck or antelope), first recorded in English in the late 18th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.