antler Meaning, Definition & Usage

Ant"ler noun

Etymology

OE. auntelere, OF. antoillier, andoiller, endouiller, fr. F. andouiller, fr. an assumed LL. antocularis, fr. L. ante before + oculus eye. See Ocular.

Definitions

1. (Zoöl.) The entire horn, or any branch of the horn, of a cervine animal, as of a stag.

   Huge stags with sixteen antlers. Macaulay.

   ✍ The branch next to the head is called the brow antler, and the branch next above, the bez antler, or bay antler. The main stem is the beam, and the branches are often called tynes. Antlers are deciduous bony (not horny) growths, and are covered with a periosteum while growing. See Velvet.