noun
ibex
EYE-beks/ˈaɪbeks/
A wild mountain goat with large curved horns.
An ibex balances on a narrow ledge above the valley.
Etymology
Latin ibex already referred to a wild goat of the Alps and Apennines. The animal’s name probably has a still older origin in a pre-Latin Alpine language.
In context
Except domestic goats likely came from the wild bezoar ibex, which has some serious horns.
More examples
- The ibex uses its hooves to grip the steep rock.
- Several ibexes graze on grass near the mountain trail.
- The male ibex has long horns that curve backward.
Forms
ibex · ibexes · ibices
Similar words
- wild goat
- A broader term covering the ibex and other undomesticated goats.