If you have been to the park lately, chances are that you have either seen a stag or a buck. To start with, both animals are similar in that they are mammals and are herbivorous in nature. As far as their classification is concerned, they belong to the family of Cervidae.
In addition, both of them refer to male deer only that they differ in terms of maturity. This is because a stag is adult male deer while a buck basically refers to a male deer. This means that a stag is bigger than a buck. Apart from this, there are other differences that set these animals apart.
For instance, a buck can refer to a male sheep, rabbit, hare, antelope, and so on. It can also refer to mature and immature horned animals that belong to the male category. Some of the animals that fall under this category include roe deer, fallow deer, reindeer, and so on. Here are other differences that distinguish these animals:
Differences Between Stag And Buck
| Stag | Buck |
|---|---|
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- Maturity: When it comes to maturity, a stag is deemed to be more mature than a buck. This is because a stag is usually referred to as an adult. The buck, on the other hand, refers to a male deer that is yet to reach maturity.
- Meaning: As we have mentioned above, a buck refers to a male deer. However, this word can also refer to a male goat, sheep, antelope, hare, and so on. It can also refer to a male ferret or shad. A stag is different as it refers to an adult male deer only. Other animals are exempted here.
- Size: Since a stag is a mature male deer, it is bound to have a large size. However, a stag is different as it is moderate or better still, small in size.
- Usage: The term stag is not as common as the term buck. However, whenever this term is used, it refers to an adult male deer or one that has reached the age of maturity. However, the term buck is widely used out there. This is because the word buck is a general term used to refer to a male deer, antelope, rabbit, and even hare. In any case, these animals are found nearly everywhere, apart from Australia and Antarctica.
- Physical features: A stag is known to be stronger than a buck. This is because the animal has large antlers. The animal uses these antlers to defend itself in case it is attacked. These antlers also make it more competitive whenever it is looking for a female stag to mate. On the other hand, a buck is moderate in size and therefore not as strong as a stag. In fact, some animals that fall under this category do not have horns. They include the rabbit and the hare. If you check keenly, the antelope has horns, but they are not as big as those of a stag.
- Hostility: When it comes to hostility, stags take the lead. Stags are not only hostile but also aggressive when looking for females stags to mate with. However, bucks are quite tamed and therefore are not as hostile as their counterparts.
Does Stag And Buck Have Other Meanings?
Yes. Besides referring to animals, these words have other meanings which are different. For instance, a stag can refer to a social gathering that is attended by men only. On the other hand, the term buck can be used to refer to a sum of money that is obtained from a transaction. Often, you will hear this word being used instead of common words such as money, cash, and so on.
A stag can refer to a spectator who has applied for shares in a new issue hoping that the prices of the shares will rise soon. Buck, on the other hand, means to resist or oppose something.
Finally, the term stag means to follow furtively or secretly. In other words, it means to spy on someone or something. Bucks, on the other hand, means to move abruptly.
Final Thoughts
Although the words stag and buck are used interchangeably, they have different meanings, such as the ones we have listed above. For instance, a stag basically refers to a mature male deer, while the buck is a general term used to refer to both immature and mature male deer.
Also, these words have other differences when used as verbs and nouns. It all depends on what you want to put across. The above-mentioned differences will inform your decision
