noun
roe
A small Eurasian deer.
A roe grazes quietly at the edge of the forest.
Etymology
Old English rā already named the small deer. The modern word preserves that inherited animal name.
More examples
- We spot two roes beside the trail.
- The startled roe vanished into the trees.
- A male roe deer grows short antlers.
Forms
roe · roes
Similar words
- deer
- A broader term covering many species, including the roe.
- roebuck
- Specifically a male roe deer, rather than either sex.