In South African English, a type of large antelope with impressive horns found in southern Africa.
From Afrikaans 'afgodt' or related to Dutch 'afgod,' literally meaning 'idol' or 'image,' possibly referring to the animal's striking appearance that seemed god-like to early Dutch settlers.
The word 'afgod' shows how language reflects cultural encounters—Dutch settlers named African animals based on their own cultural references, turning 'idol' into a specific creature they'd never seen before in Europe.
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