Geißbock

German

Etymology

From Geiß +‎ Bock.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡaɪsˌbɔk/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Geiß‧bock

Noun

Geißbock m (genitive Geißbocks or Geißbockes, plural Geißböcke)

1. billy goat, he-goat

Usage notes

The word is most common in southern Germany and Austria. Moreover, it is also used – alongside Ziegenbock – in some more northern regions where Geiß itself has become rare (probably because the compound with Bock is more transparent and generally intelligible than the bare word).

Synonyms

• Bock (includes other species such as sheep)
• Ziegenbock

Further reading

• “Geißbock” in Duden online
• “Geißbock” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache