Etymology

raghorn

R1A1G2H4O1R1N1

Today it means: Any male elk (bull) with antlers between one and six points, non-inclusive, on either side. Also called an "intermediate bull" (bulls with two, three, four or five points on either side). Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

From rag + horn, describing the animals as non-prime trophy specimens, i.e. "rags". Another explanation is that it is descriptive of how the new antlers have a velvety covering that sloughs off each year and can hang like rags.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.