Roebuck vs. Deer — What's the Difference?

A male roe deer.

Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, the fallow deer, and the chital; and the Capreolinae, including the reindeer (caribou), the roe deer, the mule deer, and the moose.

A male roe deer.

Any of various hoofed ruminant mammals of the family Cervidae, characteristically having deciduous antlers borne chiefly by the males. The deer family includes the white-tailed deer, elk, moose, and caribou.

A small European and Asiatic deer (Capreolus capræa) having erect, cylindrical, branched antlers, forked at the summit. This, the smallest European deer, is very nimble and graceful. It always prefers a mountainous country, or high grounds.

A ruminant mammal with antlers and hooves of the family Cervidae, or one of several similar animals from related families of the order Artiodactyla.

Male roe deer

(in particular) One of the smaller animals of this family, distinguished from a moose or elk

The meat of such an animal; venison.

Any animal, especially a quadrupedal mammal as opposed to a bird, fish, etc.

Any animal; especially, a wild animal.

A ruminant of the genus Cervus, of many species, and of related genera of the family Cervidæ. The males, and in some species the females, have solid antlers, often much branched, which are shed annually. Their flesh, for which they are hunted, is called venison.

Distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers