Definition

A type of wild sheep that lives in the mountains of western North America, known for its large, curved horns, especially in males.

Example

We saw a bighorn sheep grazing on the hillside during our hike.

Conversation

Did you know that a bighorn sheep can weigh up to 300 pounds?

Wow, I had no idea they were that heavy!

Yeah, and the males have those huge curved horns too.

That sounds impressive! I’d love to see one in the wild.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bighorn → The word is formed from "big" (from Old English "bigga", meaning large or great) and "horn" (from Old English "horn", meaning a hard, pointed projection). The term "bighorn" refers to a large horn, specifically the prominent horns of the bighorn sheep.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'large' ('big') and has a 'hard projection' ('horn') — that's why bighorn refers to the large horns of the bighorn sheep.

Visually Confused Words