Nilgai
/ˈnɪlɡaɪ/noun
A large Asian antelope, especially the blue-gray male of the species Boselaphus tragocamelus.
Did you know?Nilgai means “blue cow” in Hindi because adult males develop a blue-gray coat, while females are typically tawny or reddish-brown; the animal is actually an antelope.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷōus
“Cow or bovine animal; the ancient root behind English cow and other cattle words.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
nīla
“Blue, dark-blue, or dark-colored.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
go-/gā́us
“Cow or cattle; a descendant of the Indo-European cattle root.”
Medieval Hindi
Hindi
nīlgāy
“Literally “blue cow,” the name for the large Asian antelope.”
19th Century
English
nilghai / nilgai
“An English borrowing from Hindi, referring to the Indian antelope.”
Modern English
English
nilgai
“A large Asian antelope, with blue-gray adult males and brownish females.”