Buck, n. [OE. buk, bucke, AS. bucca, bua, he-goat; akin to D. bok, OHG. pocch, G. bock, Ir. boc, W. bwch, Corn. byk; cf. Zend būza, Skr. bukka. √256. Cf. Butcher, n.] 1. The male of deer, especially fallow deer and antelopes, or of goats, sheep, hares, and rabbits.
☞ A male fallow deer is called a fawn in his first year; a pricket in his second; a sorel in his third; a sore in his fourth; a buck of the first head in his fifth; and a great buck in his sixth. The female of the fallow deer is termed a doe. The male of the red deer is termed a stag or hart and not a buck, and the female is called a hind. Brande & C.
2. A gay, dashing young fellow; a fop; a dandy.
The leading bucks of the day.
Thackeray.
3. A male Indian or negro.
☞ The word buck is much used in composition for the names of antelopes; as, bush buck, spring buck.
Blue buck. See under Blue. — Water buck, a South African variety of antelope (Kobus ellipsiprymnus). See Illust. of Antelope.