nilgai

UK: /ˈnɪlɡaɪ/ US: (nil′gī)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nil•gai  (nil′gī), n., pl. -gais, (esp. collectively) -gai. 

1. Mammals a large, Indian antelope, Boselaphus tragocamelus, the male of which is bluish gray with small horns, the female tawny and hornless.

Also, nylghai, nylghau. Also called blue bull. 

• Hindi nīlgāy literally, blue cow
• 1880–85

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nilgai / ˈnɪlɡaɪ/, nilghau, nylghau / ˈnɪlɡɔː/ noun ( -gai, -gais, -ghau, -ghaus)

1. a large Indian antelope, Boselaphus tragocamelus. The male is blue-grey with white markings and has small horns; the female is brownish and has no horns

Etymology: 19th Century: from Hindi nīlgāw blue bull, from Sanskrit nīla dark blue + go bull