sambar

noun

sam·​bar ˈsäm-bər How to pronounce sambar (audio)
ˈsam-
variants or less commonly sambur
: a large Asian deer (Rusa unicolor synonym Cervus unicolor) with the male having strong 3-pointed antlers and long coarse hair on the throat

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu sā̃bar, from Sanskrit śambara

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sambar was in 1698

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Cite this Entry

“Sambar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sambar. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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