What does duikerbok mean?
Duikerbok is a southern African English noun for a small antelope, most often the common or grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), found across much of sub-Saharan Africa. The name comes from Afrikaans, combining 'duiker' ('diver', from Dutch duiken, 'to dive') with 'bok' ('goat' or 'antelope'), and refers to the animal's characteristic escape behaviour: when startled it plunges headlong into dense bush rather than fleeing into the open, disappearing almost instantly. Compact and typically grey-brown, the common duiker adapts well to bushveld, farmland margins, and scrub, which keeps it familiar to farmers, hunters, and hikers in South Africa and neighbouring countries. In everyday use the shorter form 'duiker' is more widespread internationally; 'duikerbok' carries a distinctly regional, Afrikaans-flavoured character and appears chiefly in southern African writing, hunting literature, and rural speech. Its plural is either anglicized or given in Afrikaans style.
nounA small antelope of southern Africa, especially the common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), named for its habit of diving into thick cover when alarmed. The term is the Afrikaans-derived full form of 'duiker'.
- A small southern African antelope, especially the common or grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), so called for its habit of diving into cover.
"The hunter spotted a duikerbok darting through the thorn scrub at dawn."
"A duikerbok melted into the undergrowth long before the vehicle drew level with it."
"Farmers in the Karoo often glimpse a duikerbok at dusk along the fence line."
Both an Afrikaans-style plural ('duikerbokke') and an anglicized plural occur; 'duikerbokke' is traditional in South African usage.
"Several duikerbokke were seen grazing near the waterhole at first light."
The duikerbok is named for its escape trick: rather than running, it literally dives headfirst into dense bush and vanishes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of duikerbok
Duikerbok derives from Afrikaans, itself rooted in Dutch: 'duiker' means 'diver', from the verb duiken ('to dive'), while 'bok' denotes a goat or antelope. The compound arose in Cape Dutch usage among settlers describing small antelopes whose signature defence was diving into thick vegetation. It entered South African English alongside many other Afrikaans terms for local fauna, where it remains current today as the fuller equivalent of the now-standard English 'duiker'.
How duikerbok is actually used
Regional to South African English and hunting/farming registers; elsewhere 'duiker' is the usual term. Plural may be 'duikerbokke' (Afrikaans-style) or anglicized.
Easily confused with duikerbok
'Duiker' is the standard English name for these antelopes, while 'duikerbok' is the fuller Afrikaans-based form used mainly in southern African contexts.