staggart

plural staggarts · alternative staggard

1. A four-year-old male deer, identified by having three-pronged antlers.

   I feel like an old stag squired by a staggart: but as Windles and the fan get on happily together, all is well.

   1938, Henry Williamson, Goodbye, West Country, page 212

   3 more examples

   Now the antler'd monarch springs From his lair in tangled glade ; Now through waken'd forest rings Echo with the music made ; Now the bass of manly throat (As the bounding staggart flies) Mingles with the softer note, As some dame or maiden tries With her silv'ry voice to cheer Laggard hound, who panting hies Baying deeply in the rear;

   1876, James Harris, Logs for the Christmas fire, page 79

   Over came all the herd, one by one, hinds and calves, “brockets” and “staggarts,” then the “warrantable deer,” the rear brought up by a magnificent old stag.

   1888, The Christian Union - Volume 37, page 10

   Stumberleap reared up on his hind legs, then plunged down his head, and his antlers rattled against the antlers of the staggart.

   1937, A Century of Nature Stories, page 535