A species of mountain sheep or goat.
1806. June 2. The men had a very disagreeable trip, as the roads were mountainous and slippery. They saw a number of deer, and of the ibex, or big-horn.—Patrick Gass, ‘Journal,’ p. 321: Pittsburgh, 1807. [He was with the Lewis and Clarke expedition.]
1823. About all the woodless parts of the mountain, and particularly on the summit, numerous tracks were seen resembling those of the common deer, but they most probably have been those of the big-horn.—E. James, ‘Rocky Mountain Expedition,’ ii. 31 (Phila.).
1849. The bighorn is so named from its horns; which are of a great size, and twisted like those of a ram.—W. Irving, ‘Astoria,’ p. 240. (N.E.D.)
1862. We saw a bighorn studying us from the crags, wishing, no doubt, that his monster horns were ears to comprehend our dialect.—Theodore Winthrop, ‘John Brent,’ p. 246 (N.Y., 1876).
